A most desirable 'Kirkcaldy' Jock's Great War 'Battle of Loos' Prisoner of War campaign medal group of 3: Private John Henry Dow, 9th (Service) Battalion Gordon Highlanders

- 1914-15 Star (S-3964, Pte. J. Dow, Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (S-3964 Pte. J. Dow, Gord. Highrs.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (S-3964 Pte. J. Dow, Gord. Highrs.)

Sold together with:

- Soldiers uniface fibre Identity Disc (3964 J. Dow. Pres. Gord. Highrs.)

The 'Pres' in centre of the ID disc signifies John's Christian faith, which was 'Presbyterian'

Prisoner-of-War: Private John Dow 9th (Service) Battalion is confirmed Prisoner of War (see IRRC POW records - where his surname is lumped under the lists for persons called DOWE), which according to German records show he was captured at Lens (actually it was for Day 1 of Battle of Loos) on 25 September 1915. The 'Fifeshire Advertiser' issue of 9 June 1917, contained a rare seen 'POW' captioned photograph of John Dow taken in Germany, and published with below article:

Quote,

KIRKCALDY SOLDIER IN GERMANY

We reproduce a photograph recently taken in Germany of Private John Dow, Gordon Highlanders, who is a prisoner of war at Hammelburg. He seems to be thoroughly enjoying his pipe, though wearing the far away expression noticeable in the faces of men in captivity. Private Dow's wife resides at 271 Links Street, Kirkcaldy, and he is one of the five soldier sons of ex Colour Sergeant Adam Dow and Mrs Dow, 120 Links Street

Unquote.

Patriotic Photograph: See the 'Fifeshire Advertiser' issue of 26 June, 1915, that contains a lavish illustrayed half front page photographic spread of the 'Patriotic Dow Family'. This with festooned with Union flags, and magnificent jingoistic legend(s) as under:

Quote,

JUST A FEW OF OUR MEN

WATCH THIS PAGE EACH WEEK FOR OTHERS

(then follows the portraits and biographies of the 6 x Dow's, and below)

THESE BOYS DIDN'T SHIRK

THEY WANT HELP listen for a moment can't you hear them calling TO YOU. BE A MAN there's a king's uniform waiting for YOU. GO and put it on NOW.

GOD SAVE THE KING!!!

Unquote.

The spread with portrait pictures and biographies of the father, Adam Dow late Colour Sergeant Black Watch and 74th Highlanders, who was a Recruiting Sergeant in Dunfermline, and later in 1914, on the Recruiting Staff in Kirkcaldy, together with his 5 x sons serving in 1914, vide: James Dow, 1 Cameron Highlanders, wounded at the Aisne, 1914, discharged due to wounds after 10 years service; Private Adam Dow (Junior) 1st Battalion Black Watch, a Reservist with 13 years service, was Killed-in-Action, 9 May 1915. He is cited as having on four occasions during a battle rescuing fallen wounded comrades and bringing them back to the British lines - it was while on his fourth mission of mercy, that he was killed by enemy fire; Private John Dow, 9th Gordons, still in training at Farmborough, England, at time of the article's publication; Private Drummond Dow, service with the Canadians, 1st Canadian Expeditionary Force Contingent, in France, but not heard of again since December 1914; Private Thomas Dow, 2nd Battalion Black Watch, serving in France 7 Flanders since September 1914

Note: The Kirkcaldy newspapers are packed with loads of articles & pictures pertaining to John Dow, and his remarkable 'Patriotic Family'. Including numerous letters he write home thanking the good folks of Kirkcaldy for their POW parcels that he was regularly receiving, albeit he did mention on at least one occasion that the brown bread received, had been 'Mouldy' on receipt.

Important: Private John Dow has a captioned portrait in uniform in above cited reference, wherein he is wearing his Field Service tunic with regimental clasped belt, and wearing Glengarry with Gordons cap badge

1914 Volunteer Enlistment: John Dow is confirmed as being a very early Great War volunteer enlistment. His local newspaper 'The Fife Free Press' issue of 19th September 1914, published a long list of Kirkcaldy men who had volunteered and were serving with various regiments of the British Army, or in the Royal Navy. The lists are arranged by unit, and 'John Dow' is shown included under the list for the 'Gordon Highlanders'. John had enlisted in the British Army on, 3 September 1914. John was a former pupil of Abbotshall School, Kirkcaldy

Medals Verification: The Great War campaign medals all verified as issued per the respective medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders, as under:

a). 1914-15 Star: Ref WO 329/2800 (shows first entered theatre of war 'France', 9 July 1915. Discharged, 2 January 1919)

b). British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/1653 (shown serving with 9/Gordons)

c). Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1653 (shown serving with 9/Gordons)

In addition to the campaign medals, John Dow, was also awarded a Silver War Badge (No B119413) reference WO 329/3066. The Silver War Badge roll showing that John Dow, an early 1914 Great War volunteer - had first enlisted in the British Army on, 3 September 1914, and had taken his final discharge from the British Army, on, 2 January 1919, at which time he was recorded as being 25 years and 5 months of age

Note: The 9th (Service) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, first entered theatre of war, France, on, 9 July 1915, with the battalion disembarking at, Boulogne, France, on that date

John Henry Dow, fourth son of Adam Sturrock Smith Dow (a shoemaker by trade and former professional soldier ex Black Watch & 74th Highlanders) and Elizabeth Laurie Dow (nee Paul) was a native of, Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland, where he was born on, 31 July 1893. John had eight siblings, viz; 3 x sisters, Henrietta, Kate & Lizzie; & 4 x brothers, viz, Adam, Drummond, James & Thomas. In 1914, John Dow married Jessie Sharman, at Kirkcaldy & Abbotshall. John Henry Dow is recorded as having died in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, sometime during 1969

Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research

A superb Great War 'Patriotic Family' research group!

Condition: About GVF

Code: 22620