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Lot

№ 108

.

1 March 2017

Hammer Price:
£3,600

An unusual Great War M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal F. Fowler, Royal Engineers, previously the recipient of a Naval Good Shooting Medal

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (48472 Sjt: F. Fowler. 87/Fd: Co: R.E.); 1914-15 Star (48472 Sjt. F. Fowler. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (48472 Cpl. F. Fowler. R.E.); Naval Good Shooting Medal, E.VII.R. (219401 F. Fowler, A.B., H.M.S. Argonaut. 1907 6 In. Q.F.); Messina Earthquake 1908, unnamed as issued, together with matching tunic ribbons, contact wear and edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Julian Johnson Collection.

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Collection

Provenance: Collection of Medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines formed by Commander Ron Champion, R.N., D.N.W., September 2002.

M.M. London Gazette 14 September 1916.

Frank Fowler was born in Brighton on 7 December 1884, and was an engine cleaner before joining the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in December 1902, aboard H.M.S. Northampton. He was awarded the Naval Good Shooting medal in 1907 whilst serving in H.M.S. Argonaut, from which ship he removed to H.M.S. Euryalus in September 1907. While in Euryalus he assisted at Messina, 1-5 January 1909, after the devastating earthquake which had struck on 28 December 1908, receiving the silver medal for these services. Fowler was invalided out of the Navy on 9 September 1909 and returned to live in Brighton.

Fowler enlisted into the Royal Engineers on 7 September 1914, as a pioneer, giving his occupation as engine fireman. By February 1915 he had risen to the rank of Sergeant and on 30 May 1915 embarked with 87th Field Company R.E. to B.E.F. France. On 14 September 1916, he was admitted to 38 Field Ambulance, rejoining his unit from hospital on 21 September. He was afterwards admitted to 5 General Hospital, Rouen, and then to 2nd London General Hospital. He was reduced to Corporal by Field General Court Martial for drunkenness on 10 December 1916. He was finally discharged at No. 1 Dispersal Unit, Shorncliffe, on 17 February 1919, suffering from a diseased left eye. He was afterwards employed as a Locomotive Fireman/Driver with the London Brighton South Coast Railway. Sold with comprehensive copied research.