Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Engine Room Artificer N. A. Cowell, Royal Naval Reserve, who died on 3 May 1918, having spent nine agonising days drifting at sea without food or water, after the Q-ship Bombala was sunk by two enemy submarines off the West African coast on 25 April 1918

1914-15 Star (EA 1478, N. A. Cowell, E.R.A., R.N.R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (1478EA N. A. Cowell. E.R.A. R.N.R.) traces of verdigris to VM, otherwise very fine (2) £70-£90

Norman Arthur Cowell was born in Charlton, Kent, on 27 February 1883, and enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 5 November 1914. He served during the Great War in the Q-Ship Bombala from 15 September 1917, and was present in her when she was attacked by two enemy submarines, U-153 and U-154 off Cape Blanco off the West African coast on 25 April 1918. ‘For two and a half hours the fight waxed and waned. Finally, the Bombala, a blazing wreck, was abandoned by her crew, numbering 53. Terrible were the events that ensured in that tropical clime. After the first day the ship’s boats became separated. The master’s boat was never seen again. The other boat drifted about under the blazing sun for eight days, the torments of agonising thirst torturing the survivors. Some (11 in all) drank sea water and went mad. On the ninth morning the 14 remaining survivors made land in the estuary of the Senegal River. Two of the strongest cast about and found a tiny pool of water, and after drinking a little they tottered back to their comrades bearing the life giving fluid. But it was too late, for the rest had by now died. These two survivors then struggled on until, the next day, found by friendly Arabs, they were taken to a French post.’ (The German Submarine War, by Gibson and Prendergast refers).

Cowell is reported as being in the lifeboat that made it to land, but was one of the 12 occupants who did not survive, and is officially presumed to have lost his life on 3 May 1918. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.

Sold with copied record of service.