Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 March 2014

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1533

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26 March 2014

Hammer Price:
£580

Four: Major R. N. L. Gowans, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, taken prisoner in Norway

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Major, K.O.Y.L.I.); Coronation 1953, unnamed, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £160-200

Major R. N. L. ‘Porky’ Gowans was the son of Major William Gowans, K.O.Y.L.I., who was killed in France during the Great War. ‘Porky’ was commissioned in January 1930 and joined the 2nd Battalion K.O.Y.L.I. in India where he enjoyed the local pursuits of polo, pig-sticking and cricket. He returned to England in 1936 and commanded the Depot Training Cadre at Pontefract until 1939 when he joined the 1st Battalion. He went to Norway in command of ‘A’ Company 1st Battalion K.O.Y.L.I. and was taken prisoner; being held as P.O.W. No. 193 in Oflag O.79 in Brunswick. After the war he served with the 1st Battalion in Malaya, returning to England in 1950 to command the Depot at the Senior Officers School at Devizes and later at Strensall. Major Gowans retired from the Army in 1953 and died on 4 April 1987, aged 77 years. With copied obituary from The Silver Bugle, Autumn 1987.