Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Commander (E.) D. Bower, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his services in H.M.S. Barham, in which battleship he was present at Jutland

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Art. Eng. D. Bower, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Art. Eng. D. Bower, R.N.), mounted as worn, generally very fine or better (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Chidzey Collection.

View
Collection

M.B.E. London Gazette 31 July 1919:

‘In recognition of services during the War.’

David Bower, who was born in December 1880, was appointed an Acting Artificer Engineer from the rate of Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class in September 1914, when he joined the newly commissioning battleship H.M.S. Barham. And he served in that capacity for the remainder of the War, being present at the Battle of Jutland, when the Barham acted as flagship of the 5th Battle Squadron and was heavily engaged with Hipper’s battle cruisers, scoring hits on the Lutzow, Derfflinger and Seydlitz, but also getting badly mauled in the process, several hits causing her serious casualties, among them four officers and 22 ratings killed.

Recommended for his M.B.E. on account of ‘valuable services rendered in the Barham since her commissioning’ (T.N.A. ADM 171/88 refers), Bower was advanced to Warrant Engineer in January 1920 and to Commissioned Engineer in September 1924, and was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant (E.) in December 1930.

Recalled in his old rank on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, he was posted to the Portland anti-submarine establishment Osprey, removed to the similarly located Coastal Forces base Attack in early 1941 and thence, in September following, to an R.A.F. Station. Having then also served on the books of Bacchante on maintenance duties, he was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander (E.) in October 1942, before removing to his final wartime appointment at Royal Arthur, the training establishment at Skegness.

The Commander, who reverted to the Retired List in September 1945, died in Bournemouth in January 1972.