A most desirable documented 'Christmas Truce' 1914, campaign medal group of 3: Private Robert John Cameron Cowan, 5th (Territorial) Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

- 1914 Star (6966 Pte. R. J. C. Cowan. 5/ Sco: Rif.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (6966 Pte. R. J. C. Cowan. Sco. Rif.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (6966 Pte. R. J. C. Cowan. Sco. Rif.)

Medal verification: All of the campaign medals verified as issued per the respective Royal Marines and British Merchant Navy medal rolls as under:

- 1914 Star: Ref WO 329/2449
- British War & Interallied Victory Medals: Ref WO 329/1126

Note: Robert's Medal Index Card and corresponding medal roll entry for the 1914 Star show that he first entered theatre of war 'France' on 5 November 1914

Wounded-in-Action: Private R. J. C. Cowan is confirmed having been 'Wounded-in-Action due to 'Gunshot & Shrapnel Wound' received on the Western Front in April 1915. The official notice of his casualty status was published in the Aberdeen Press & Journal issue of 26 April 1915, in a long list of Scottish casualties who had been reported in a casualty return issued by the Headquarters of British Expeditionary Force in France on 8 April 1915

Important: The medal roll of the 1914 Star show that the only soldier of the 5/Scottish Rifles serving in France in Winter 1914, of the surname 'Cowan' with forename initial R, was Robert John Cameron Cowan, who is recorded as having published a letter home describing his experiences on the Western Front in December 1914, including witness to the famous 'Christmas Truce'. In spite of Army Censorship his detailed letter was published in the Dundee Evening Telegraph issue of, 5 January 1915, as under:

Quote,

CIGARS SWAPPED FOR BULLY BEEF

Private Robert Cowan, 5th Scottish Rifles, in a latter to a friend in Glasgow, writes:- Our company struck it lucky getting quiet spells at the trenches. We go up in relays. One of my most exciting experiences was in a listening post between our trenches and the Germans. It was returning from here that young Stanley Irons was killed by shrapnel during a night attack.

On Christmas Eve, we were digging trenches, and could here the shouting and singing in the trenches. Two of our companies ( 2 and 7) were in on Christmas Day. At No.2 C a truce was arranged for a few hours. The Germans rolled some barrels of beer over from a brewery which they held, and swapped cigars for bully beef. Greetings were exchanged and a London Terrier arranged a billiard match after the war with a Highgate German.

One of them who spoke perfect English, said they knew they were losing, although their officers said different, and he expected the war to finish in February. Your kindness in considering my wants leads me to suggest vaseline in some later package. I am well off for woollens, tell George. I am orderly to-day, so must hurry off to get the "skilly".

Unquote.

Robert John Cameron Cowan, son of Robert Cowan (a Commercial Traveller) and Martha Wayne Cowan (nee Cameron) was a native of, Pollockshields, Glasgow, Scotland, where he was born on, 17 September 1884. The 1901 National Census for Scotland, records Robert, described as age 16 years and employed as a 'Newspaper Clerk', residing with his father and younger brother, Duncan Cameron Cowan, at the family home located at, 133 Finlay Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow. Robert was a pre-war member of the Territorial Force, and following the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, he was, together with the rest of his unit, 5th (Territorial) Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), mobilized for active service. On 5 November, 1914, the 5th Scottish Rifles, including Robert, disembarked at, Le Havre, France. A rare identified 'Witness' to the 'Christmas Truce' of, 25 December 1914, Robert was later 'Wounded in Action' in April 1915. Post-War, Robert, returned to civilian life, and was by trade a 'Baker', being incorporated into the Incorporation of the Guild of Glasgow Bakers, in 1920, having been entered by his Father-in-Law, William Nisbet Taylor (No.358). Despite his wounds received in 1915 during the Great War, Robert lived a long life, and is recorded as having died at, Selly Oak, Birmingham, England, on, 12 January 1978

Condition: GVF

Code: 21608