A Jock's South African & Great War campaign & long service 'Died of Wounds' medal group of 4: Private Robert Bower, 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), late 6th (Banff & Donside) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force)

- QSA Medal. Silver 'CC' 'OFS' 'TR' 'SA 01' (9050 Pte. R. Bower. Gordon Highrs:)
- British War Medal. Silver (4980 Pte. R. Bower. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (4980 Pte. R. Bower. Gordons.)
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. GV issue (177 L.Sjt: R. Bowie. 6/Gordon Hdrs.)

Note: Surname spelt 'Bowie' (sic) on TFEM, and exactly as issued. The medal confirmed awarded to Robert Bowers in 1911 while serving with 6th (Banff & Donside) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), at which time the recipient was employed and resident in Aberlour, working as a 'Baker'. The recipients TFEM medal is also referred to in his biographical entry in the monumental 'Turiff and 12 Miles Around'.

Medal verification: All medals & clasps verified as entitled, per the campaign medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders and respective Army Order as under:

- QSA Medal with 4 clasps: Ref WO 100/203
- British War Medal. Silver issue : Ref WO 329/1662
- Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1662
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal: Ref Army Order No. 282 dated 1 October 1911

Ephemera: Sold together with hard-copy photocopied sets of the recipients service papers for both the South African and Great War eras, and a number of original postcard photographs that include the identified recipient in uniform serving with 4th Volunteer Service Company Gordon Highlanders, and later as a Corporal & Sergeant, respectively, with 6th Volunteer Battalion and 6th Territorial Force Battalions of the Gordon Highlanders. In one photograph, Robert is shown wearing his 4 clasp QSA!

Robert Bower was a native of, Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born circa 1883. Robert Bower a 'Confectioner' had since 1899, been a serving member of the 6th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders, when on 18 February, 1902, at Aberdeen, Scotland, he signed a 'Short Service Contract' to serve overseas in South Africa with the 4th Volunteer Service Company of the Gordon Highlanders attached to the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Robert subsequently served with the Gordon Highlanders in South Africa during the South African War between, 3 March to 12 July 1902, and was discharged on 14 July 1902. After his return from South Africa (QSA medal with 4 x clasps), Robert reverting to his part-time volunteer service, with 6th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders through to 1908 (during which time he was advanced to Corporal rank), and later after the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908, with the 6th (Banff & Donside) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force) in which latter unit he served through to at least 1912 - serving with 'Aberlour detachment of 6/Gordons (TF) holding the rank of Lance Sergeant

Robert had taken his discharge form the Territorial Force sometime between December 1912 & August 1914, and was classified at that time as a 'National Reservist'. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Robert Bower was recalled to service as a 'National Reservist' on 5 January 1915, and was posted to the 1/5th (Buchan & Formartin) Bn Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), with which unit he served during the Great War. Robert subsequently served overseas in France, from, 26 November 1916. Private Robert Bower is confirmed having been 'Wounded-in-Action', when he received a 'Gunshot & Shrapnel Wound', (or GSW), to his right leg in the vicinity of La Bassee, France, on 12 April 1918, during the fighting of the 'Germans Spring Offensive', and after being treated at No. 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples was repatriated back to the United Kingdom

Robert Bower, was discharged from the British Army on 7 February 1919. Sadly, however, on 26 June 1919, at Craigleith Military Hospital, Edinburgh, he died of endocarditis, due to a direct result of his military service and wounds.

Only because Robert was no longer a serving soldier, his death - a direct result of his wounds received in action - his name, memory and sacrifice, was shamefully not included or recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Robert's death, sacrifice and service with honour, was however recorded for posterity by his kinsfolk, where his name is inscribed on the handsome sandstone memorial subscribed to and built by the townsfolk of Turiff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

A fine documented and illustrated Aberdeenshire volunteers medal group the Gordon Highlanders

Condition: Mostly GVF

Code: 21694