74975: Driver
William Bowen, Royal Field Artillery.
I came by this medal in a small antique shop in the town of Bridgenorth
in Shropshire. It’s suspension is lightly loose and being artillery, was in
real danger of being scrapped at that time. It still wears the incorrect ribbon
it came with (From the victory medal) and nothing was known about ‘Dvr. W.
Bowen’ other than a compulsion to keep it safe for future generations…
William Bowen was a true ‘Old Contemptible’ (The name given
to Britain’s relatively small force by Kaiser Wilhelm at the outbreak of WW1)
Although no service records have survived, William has two
MICs listed. One for his 1914 star entitlement; his name incorrectly given as
‘Bower’, and the other showing correction to ‘Bowen’ (It also refers to the
prior mistake: ‘See BOWER. W’)
His 1914 card states his entry into war as the 16th
August 1914 and that he served with 43rd Brigade, Royal Field
Artillery. Both MIC cards also reveal that William was a holder of the ‘Mons
Clasp’ – a small bronze clasp that those who had served under the range of
enemy artillery between August 14 and November 1914, were entitled to wear on
their 14 star; The date given for the issue of the clasp is given as 20th
December 1920.
William’s rank as ‘Driver’ was equal to that of a private in
a line regiment, but his job was somewhat different. It entailed the control of
at least two horses; either pulling field guns or supplies up and down to the front.
Often, ‘Drivers’ would work in teams of 3, controlling six
horses. Casualty rates amongst Drivers were proportionally higher than those of
Gunners, and as such, daily pay rates were greater. It’s also worth mentioning
that awards of the Military Medal to artillery personnel were far greater to
the rank of Driver than any other rank within the RA.
The whereabouts of William’s 1914 star/Mons Clasp and
Victory are unknown at present.
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