Orders, Decorations and Medals

Waterloo 1815 (Ensign J. Bowlby, 3rd Batt. 14th Reg. Foot) fitted with original steel clip and silver swivel-ring bar suspension, light surface marks, otherwise very fine £800-1000

Joseph Bowlby was born at Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham, on 20 November 1797, and was appointed Ensign in the 14th Foot on 2 November 1814. He was present at the battle of Waterloo 18 June 1815, and the campaign in France 1815, under the command of His Grace the Duke of Wellington; and also at the storming of Cambrai under the command of Lt-General Sir Charles Colville. Bowlby transferred, as Lieutenant, to the 53rd Foot in 1822, to the 6th Foot in 1824, and to the 90th Foot in April 1825. He became Captain in the 90th Foot on 26 December 1826, and served abroad in the Ionian Islands 1816-1818 and 1828 to December 1829, and in the East Indies 1819-1823. On its voyage home from the Ionian Islands in December 1829, one wing of the regiment, under the command of Captain Bowlby, was shipwrecked on the coast of Sicily, owing to misconduct of the crew of the hired transport in which it was embarked. Thanks to the indefatigable exertions of the officers and men of the 90th, all the baggage and public stores were saved. It is interesting to note that for 10 years, from 1829 to 1838, Captain Bowlby was the only officer in the 90th to wear a medal for war service.