Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Chief Petty Officer A. J. Sowden, Royal Navy

China 1900, no clasp (A. J. Sowden, C.P.O., H.M.S. Barfleur.); British War Medal 1914-20 (115812 A. J. Sowden. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (A. J. Sowden. P.O. 1st. Cl., H.M.S. Australia.) minor official correction to last, good very fine (3) £240-£280

Alfred James Sowden was born in Torquay, Devon, on 28 February 1866, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 6 March 1881. Advanced Petty Officer 1st Class on 19 January 1892, he joined H.M.S. Australia on 8 June 1893, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 11 July 1894.

Advanced Chief Petty Officer on 10 May 1899, Sowden joined H.M.S. Barfleur on 16 November 1899 and served in her until 10 January 1902. He was shore pensioned on 25 February 1904, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth the next day. Recalled to the Service on 2 August 1914, he served afloat during the first year of the Great War (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star and a Victory Medal), before being invalided out on 19 August 1915. He died in Southampton on 29 January 1947.

Sold with copied service records, medal roll extracts, and other research.