Orders, Decorations and Medals

An interesting Boer War D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant W. Fowler (alias Brown), Northumberland Fusiliers, later Manchester Regiment, killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3510 L. Cpl., 2nd Northld. Fus.) first medal with original surname of ‘Brown’ neatly erased and replaced with ‘Fowler’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3510 Pte., North’d. Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3510 Corpl., North’d. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (2032 Sjt., Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2032 Sjt., Manch. R.) some contact wear, otherwise generally very fine or better (6) £700-900

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 April 1901. The regimental journal states the following: ‘A, C, E, and F Companies sent up the Witwatersburg to clear the heights along the left flank. Stiff skirmishing on very steep and difficult ground, Boers holding heights ahead and some distant kopjes on left flank from which they kept up a heavy fire at long ranges. Privates Doyle and Jamieson of F Company were killed and four others wounded. Lance-Corporal Brown much distinguished himself here.’

Whilst serving in South Africa Fowler who had enlisted under the name of Brown decided to declare openly his true name. A copy of his statutory declaration is held with his service papers at the P.R.O., a copy of which is included with the lot. It is dated 1 February 1901 at Pretoria and states ‘I William Fowler do solemnly and sincerely declare that I was enlisted on the 27th August 1892 under the name of William Brown, which name I now declare to be incorrect. The name of William Fowler I now declare to be my true name.....’

During the Great War Fowler enlisted his services for the Manchester Regiment and was killed in action whilst serving with the 1/5th Battalion at Gallipoli on 2 June 1915. At the time of his death he was 49 years old and is buried at Redoubt Cemetery, Gallipoli. Sold with a large quantity of copied research material.