Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut. D. G. M. Fowler, 91st Foot), with silver riband buckle with gold reverse pin, edge bruising, very fine

Together with:

An original Zulu fighting stick, as used by Lieutenant Fowler for a swagger stick, the wood etched with ‘Zululand 1879’ on the striking end, and ‘Lt. D. G. Fowler, 91st Highlanders’ immediately below, while the remainder of the shaft bears the following etched locations and dates: ‘Lower Tugela 25.3.79 / Battle of Ginginhlovo 2.4.79 / Relief of Ekowe 3.4.79 / Fort Chelmsford 25.4.79 / Fort Crealock / Inyezane River 17.6.79 / Napoleon Hill 21.6.79 / Umlalasi Plains 29.6.79 / Umlatoos River 24.7.79’, 32ins., in excellent overall condition and a rare Zulu War artefact £1200-1500

Donald George MacKay Fowler was appointed a Lieutenant in the 91st Highlanders in June 1874, and served as Adjutant of his regiment throughout the Zulu War of 1879. Present in the advance to, and relief of, Etshowe, including the battle of Ginghilovo, he also participated in the advance of Crealock’s Division to Port Durnford.

Advanced to Captain in June 1884, he served as Adjutant of the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders between 1886-91, and as a Major in the 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion of the same regiment from 1894. Fowler finally resigned his commission in May 1901, having been granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.