An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John

A Great War D.S.O., O. St. J. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel B. W. B. Bowdler, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with top bar; Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, base silver metal and enamel; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Major, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); Russia, Order of Stanislas, 3rd Class breast badge with swords, gold and enamel; Belgium, Order of the Crown, 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘A’ cypher; U.S.A. Army Distinguished Service Medal, enamelled, stamped, ‘956’ on edge, mounted count style for wear, good very fine (12)
£3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 14 January 1916. ‘Major, Royal Engineers’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 December 1914; 1 January 1916; 18 May 1917; 20 May 1918; 5 July 1919.

Basil Wilfred Bowdier Bowdler was born on 30 March 1873, the son of Colonel C. W. B. Bowdler, C.B. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 22 July 1892 and was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1895, Captain in May 1903 and Major in July 1912. Was a Student at the Staff College, 1907-08 and a Staff Officer at the War Office, 1910-14. During the Great War he served in France/Flanders, 5 August 1914-11 November 1918. For his services he was five times mentioned in despatches, received the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1916, the C.M.G. in 1919; in addition he received honours and awards from Belgium, France, Russia and the United States of America. In addition he was an Esquire of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Bowdler was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1920 and was placed on Retired Pay in 1922. He died on 4 January 1960.