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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 134

Family group:

Three: Greaser C. J. Dowson, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, late Private, 1st Rhodesian Regiment, who kept a fine photographic record of the service of that regiment in German South-West Africa

1914-15 Star (Pte. C. J. Dowson 1st Rhodn. Rgt); British War and Victory Medals (C. Dowson. Gsr. M.F.A.), second with officially re-impressed naming, good very fine

War Medal 1939-45 (A/Sgt O. C. Dowson W.A.I.S.), good very fine (4)

Charles John Dowson was born in 1892 in London, England, the son of Inspector C. Dowson, Metropolitan Police. Enlisting in the 1st Rhodesian Regiment at Bulawayo on 20 October 1914, he was assigned regimental number 226 and served in 'D' Company during the German South-West Africa campaign. Their service in that theatre comprised over over 20 actions between 22 December 1914-26 July 1915, in which Dowson appears to have been present for the entirety. Subsequently transferred to the Mercantile Fleet Auxilliary, Dowson would served aboard H.M.S. Safa-el-Bahr off Malta and was present when she rescued the crew of the S.S. Zebge. He returned to work as a locomotive engineer back home in Rhodesia and assisted in Service Staffing during the Second World War; sold together with a fascinating photograph album of some 60 images, including the German South-West Africa campaign, later service afloat and some family images, fragile and spine split in places but in generally good condition and a remarkable resource and a tin containing Rhodesian cap Badges, buttons and a pair of 'Kynock 470' shell casings, each tipped with ivory.

C. J. Dowson was the son of Inspector C. Dowson, for his awards please see Lot 113. For the awards of his son-in-law, please see Lot xxx.

Olive Constance Dowson the wife of C. J. Dowson, served in the Women's Auxiliary Internment Service in Rhodesia as an Acting Sergeant from 1 September 1941; sold together with large portrait photograph, an assortment of uniform insignia and copied service record.

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Sold for
£400