A Great War 'Gallipoli' D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant Colonel H. G. C. Fowler,...

A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant Colonel H. G. C. Fowler, South Wales Borderers, who had been recommended for the Victoria Cross for great gallantry at ‘Turkey Trench’ in June 1915 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902, all except the SA02 clasp contemporary tailor’s copies (Lieut. H. G. C. Fowler. S. Wales Bord:) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. G. C. Fowler. S. Wales Bord:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. H. G. C. Fowler.) slight edge bruising to second, otherwise, very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 24 August 1915. ‘For great gallantry on the 18th and 19th June, 1915, during operations on the Gallipoli Peninusla. In a counter attack on a Turkish trench he lead the party that eventually cleared it. This officer threw some 30 bombs, some of which were enemy bombs which he picked up and threw back at great personal risk.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915 and London Gazette 22 June 1918. Hugh Griffith Coke Fowler was born in Brecon on 12 January 1882. He was commissioned into Highland Light Infantry and served with the 3rd Battalion. Advanced Lieutenant on 31 July 1900, he transferred into the South Wales Borderers and served in South Africa during the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion (clasp entitlement unconfirmed). He qualified as a Frist Class Russian interpreter and was advanced Captain on 1 February 1913, he served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion from 1 December 1914, and was wounded at Festubert on 21 December 1914, and saw further service at Gallipoli with the 2nd Battalion. Captain C. T. Atkinson’s The History of the South Wales Borderers 1914-18 refers: ‘The action at Turkey Trench began with a Turkish bombardment in the evening on June 18th. Around 8.30 p.m. the Turks attacked, at first they were beaten off but soon overwhelmed the defenders and got into the North West end of Turkey Trench. They advanced, cutting off the South Wales Borderers from the Inniskillings on their right. A joint party of the Inniskillings and South Wales Borderers attempted to regain Turkey Trench, and although they were initially successful the Turks fought back. At 11.15 p.m. Captain Walker and a bombing party attacked but were unable to relieve the pressure. Throughout the night more attempts were made to drive the Turks out, including artillery fire on the Trench. These efforts had limited success and the fighting seesawed back and forth through the night until 4.45 a.m. when the final counterattack was mounted. This was made by Captain Fowler, Regimental Sergeant Major Westlake and some bombers supported by Captain Walker, Captain O’Sullivan of the Inniskillings and some men of both Battalions. The party was headed by Private Woods, who cleared the way with the bayonet, while Private Matthews kept down the enemy’s enfilading fire. Both men did magnificently exposing themselves fearlessly and pushing steadily on. By 5.15am thirty yards had been won back, by 5.45 a.m. seventy, half an hour later the whole trench was in British hands. Captain Fowler had been splendid and inspired his men by his gallantry, having exhausted his own bombs he picked up Turk’s bombs and threw them back with great effect. The Turks retiring in daylight were cut down in the open by machine gun fire. A final attack by the Turks was then repulsed and the exhausted South Wales Borderers and Inniskillings began rebuilding the defences and caring for casualties.  Each Battalion lost around 80 dead and wounded and there were 91 dead Turks in and around Turkey Trench, with many more on the open ground beyond. Captain Fowler was recommended for a Victoria Cross and received the Distinguished Service Order, whilst Private Woods and Private Matthews were each awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.’ Advanced Lieutenant Colonel, he died, aged 65, in Brecon, on 7 February 1947. Sold with copied research. For the recipient’s son’s medals, see Lot 23.