Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Tirah 1897-98 campaign and M.S.M. group of four awarded to Squadron Sergeant-Major John McGowan, 4th Dragoon Guards, later a Yeoman of the Guard

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2139. S.Q.M.S. J. McGowan. 4th Dragoon Gds:); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2139. Sq. Q.M. Sgt.J. McGowan. 4/Dgn: Gds.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage head (SQ. S. Mjr. J. McGowan. 4-D. Gds.); Khedive's Star 1882, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (4) £550-£650

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny.

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John McGowan was born at Liverpool and enlisted there into the 4th Dragoon Guards on 21 September 1877, aged 18, a cabinet maker by trade. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1880; Lance-Sergeant, May 1882; Sergeant, July 1882; Troop Sergeant-Major, November 1891; Squadron Sergeant-Major, May 1898. He served in Egypt from 9 August to 22 October, 1882 (Medal and Bronze Star), and in India from September 1894 to November 1901, and took part in the Tirah campaign of 1897-98 (Medal with 2 clasps). He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal with gratuity £5 in Army Order 10 of January 1896. He was posted to the Permanent Staff Yeomanry Cavalry as Regimental Sergeant-Major on 20 December 1901, sanctioned to raise the ‘King’s Colonials’ whose name was changed in 1911 to King Edward’s Horse. McGowan was discharged from the Permanent Staff of the King’s Colonials Yeomanry on 12 May 1909, and almost immediately appointed to H.M. Bodyguard on 18 June 1909. His M.S.M. without annuity was announced in Army Order 163 of 1932 and issued to him as a Yeoman of the King’s Bodyguard. He attended, and also received medals for, the Coronation in 1911, the Silver Jubilee in 1935, and the Coronation in 1937, and died on 11 January 1942.