An extremely rare Edward VII Boxer Rebellion D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Commander A. Rowand, Royal Navy, late Royal Indian Marine

Distinguished Service Order, E.VII.R., silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Lieut., Rl. Ind. Mar.); China 1900, no clasp (Lieut., R.I.M.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut. in Comd., D.S.O., R.I.M.S. Dalhousie); 1914 Star (Commdr., D.S.O., R.N., Transport Staff), initials ‘G. A.’; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr., R.N.), the first with minor enamel chips to central wreaths and flaking to reverse of one arm, generally good very fine (7) £6000-7000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 26 June 1903:

‘In recognition of services during the occupation of China by International Troops.’

Just two D.S.Os were awarded to officers of the Royal Indian Marine for the Boxer Rebellion, out of a total of 25 such awards for the entire conflict.

Alexander Rowand was born in August 1868, the son of the late Alexander Rowand of Glasgow, and was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham. Having then attended the training ship Worcester, and served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Shaw, Saville & Albion Co. Ltd., he was commissioned as a 3rd Grade Officer into the Royal Indian Marine in March 1889.

Advanced to Lieutenant in April 1895, he subsequently served as Assistant Marine Transport Officer on the Naval Transport Staff in Natal during the Boer War, for which he was mentioned in despatches, and in a similar capacity during the Boxer Rebellion, for which he was again mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Further active service followed in the Somaliland operations of 1902-04, when he served as Lieutenant in Command of the Dalhousie.

Rowand retired from the Royal Indian Marine on 25 May 1909, having been promoted to Commander 2nd Grade in the previous year, but he returned to active duty with the Royal Navy in the Great War, initially serving as a member of the Transport Force at Marseilles in 1914, and he received his third “mention” from Lord French (London Gazette 1 January 1916 refers).