An Edwardian ‘Coast Defences’ C.B. group of three awarded to Major-General F. A. Bowles, Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery 1923-31

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked London 1910, fitted with gold ribbon buckle; Coronation 1911, unnamed; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1891 (Major F. A. Bowles No. 9 Mn. By. R.A.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

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C.B. London Gazette 26 June 1908: ‘Major-General, Commander, Coast Defences, Plymouth.’

Frederick Augustus Bowles was born on 18 May 1851, son of Rev. Charles Bradshaw Bowles, of Woking, Surrey. Educated at Clifton College and at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, he entered the Army as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in December 1871; Captain, July 1881; Major, October 1887; Lieutenant-Colonel, May 1897; Colonel, May 1904; Major-General, March 1908. He served with No. 9 Mountain Battery R.A. in the Hazara Expedition, March to May, 1891 (Despatches London Gazette 20 October 1891; Medal with Clasp), and accompanied the Isazai Field Force in 1892. He was appointed General Officer Commanding South Western Coast Defences, Southern Command, 1908-12, and was Commander of the Devon National Reserve then Inspector of Recruiting during the war. Appointed Colonel Commandant of the Devon Cadet Corps in 1918, and Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery from 1923 until his death on 17 September 1931.