Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private J. H. Cowan, Highland Light Infantry, who brought in over 50 wounded men under fire - he was killed in action on the Peninsula in December 1915 and posthumously mentioned in despatches in January 1916

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2310 Pte. J. H. Cowan, 1/7 H.L.I. - T.F.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (2310 Pte., High. L.I.), together with related Memorial Plaque (James Hamilton Cowan), polished but otherwise generally very fine (4) £800-1000

D.C.M. London Gazette 15 September 1915:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the night of 12-13 July 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, when he searched the ground up to the firing line and brought in under fire over 50 wounded men.’

James Hamilton Cowan, a Glaswegian of the 1/7th (Blythswood) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, disembarked with his unit on the Gallipoli Peninsula in early July 1915. Moved up to the firing line and support trenches on the 5th, the Battalion mounted a gallant attack on enemy trenches “F12” and “E10” on the 11th, advancing under heavy shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire, ‘like a thunder-shower on still water’. Although the Turkish trenches were taken, consolidation was difficult owing to the number of casualties, an indication of whom may be found in the citation to Cowan’s D.C.M., he alone bringing in over 50 of them over the next 48 hours. On the morning of the 13th, the Battalion was compelled to retreat to “Parsons Road” owing to very heavy enfilade fire, but by the day’s end the men had rallied, charged and re-captured their earlier gains: total casualties for the period in question amounted to 45 killed, 151 wounded and 53 missing.

Cowan, who was killed in action on 4 December 1915, was posthumously mentioned in despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton (London Gazette 28 January 1916 refers). He is commemorated on the memorial in Pink Farm Cemetery, Helles; note missing 1914-15 Star.