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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 166

(x) A 1919 M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Colonel C. W. Bowles, Punjab Light Horse, who served in France during 1914 with the Indian Cavalry Division

Bowles was also the State Engineer to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala - for whom he built the Patiala State Monorail Trainway

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st Type, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; 1914 Star, copy clasp (Sergt. C. W. Bowles, Punjab Lt. Horse Attd. Ind. Cav. Divn. Force A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. C. W. Bowles.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Sgt. C. W. Bowles. Ind. Cav. Dn.); Delhi Durbar 1903 (C. W. Bowles, Mysore); Delhi Durbar 1911); Jubilee 1935, very fine (7)

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919 (State Engineer, Patiala).

Charles William Bowles was born in September 1877, the son of William Edward & Kathleen Bowles of Corsham, Wiltshire. Educated at Holloway and King's College, London, he qualified as an Engineer and went out to India, initially serving in Mysore.

Going into the State Works Department, he served on the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company and held charge for wide-ranging construction, including a gaol which held famed political prisoners including Chandra Bose and Nehru. Bowles then struck up a successful working relationship with the famous Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. It was under his charge that the Patiala State Monorail Trainway was constructed. Running to a total length of 50 miles, the monorail connected Basi with the railway at Sirhind. Several of its trains are in the National Rail Museum, New Delhi to this day. Besides that, Bowles was also responsible for the purchasing in 1910 of two aircraft for the Maharaja. He was sent to Europe and came back with a Farman biplane made in England and a Gnome-Bleriot monoplane fitted with two seats, in what must have been quite the adventure.

During the Great War he proceeded to France with the Indian Cavalry Division on 9 November 1914 and latterly served in assisting the construction of barracks for Indian troops on the Western Front. He was confirmed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Punjab Light Horse in April 1917 and was advanced Lieutenant in October 1918, being the Commanding Officer of the Amballa Troop of the Light Horse. He was duly rewarded with an M.B.E. for his efforts and returned to his beloved India.

A member of the RAC in London, Bowles died in Gloucestershire in September 1966.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£550