Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Private C. Vowles, 21st Lancers, who went on to win fame as a professional footballer in the 1920s

1914-15 Star (L-3518 Pte., 21st Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-3518 Pte., 21-Lrs.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (L-19530 Pte., 21-Lrs.), this last officially impressed but a later issue dating from 1934, contact marks and edge bruising, particularly to the second, thus nearly very fine or better (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers.

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Charles Vowles, who was born at Bedminster, Bristol in 1892 and enlisted in the 21st Lancers, aged 19 years, first went into action in the regiment’s celebrated charge at Shabkadar on 5 September 1915 (his MIC entry confirms).

Meanwhile, he had also established himself as a stalwart member of the 21st Lancers’ Football Team - see Lot 140 for relevant group photograph, which also includes Shoeing-Smith Charles Hull, V.C. - and it was at an Army Cup match back in Devon after the War that he was “spotted” by the manager of Exeter City, after scoring an impressive hat-trick. Duly signed-up by Exeter in March 1919, he went on to become the club’s leading scorer for three seasons, until, in December 1922, his services were dispensed with as a result of a disciplinary hearing. Vowles next joined Boston Spa F.C., but he moved to Barrow F.C. for the 1924-25 season when he became the club’s top scorer with 18 goals in 37 League and Cup games - and in the following season he transferred to Scunthorpe F.C., with whom he raised his score to 39 goals (including four hat-tricks).

Vowles died in Halifax in September 1976, where, following his retirement from professional football aged 42 years, he had worked for the Highways Department.