Description
Crimea Medal, 2 bars, Inkermann, Sebastopol, Sardian Al Valore Militaire, Spedizione D’Oriente, with “F.G.” mark on obverse for G. Ferraris, Assistant Surgeon Essex Bowen, Royal Artillery.
“ESSEX BOWEN, M.D. St. AND., F.R.C.S. Eng
Dr. ESSEX BOWEN, a well-known practitioner in Birkenhead, died suddenly a little before noon on the 18th inst. The cause appears to have been heart disease. Dr. Bowen was a St. Thomas’s student, and took the College and Hall in 1850 and 1851, after which he entered the Royal Artillery as an assistant surgeon, and served throughout the Crimean campaign. On leaving the army he went to Chester, and was appointed surgeon to the Chester General Infirmary. Resigning this appointment and removing to Birkenhead, he was elected surgeon to the Birkenhead Borough Hospital, a post he held for fifteen years. At the time of his decease he was consulting surgeon to the Birkenhead Borough Hospital and to the Wirral Children’s Hospital. He was also president of the Birkenhead Medical Society, and presided at a meeting of the Society in his usual health on the 14th inst. Dr. Bowen belonged to a good county family in South Wales, and was J.P. for Pembrokeshire. He was twice married, and leaves a widow and children to mourn their loss. The funeral will take place to-day (Saturday) at Flaybrick-hill Cemetery.
Dr Bowen’s professional position and reputation were acknowledged to be about the highest in the district. Socially he was much esteemed, and was a respected member of several learned and artistic societies. His sympathetic and kindly ways endeared him to a large circle of friends and patients, and his death leaves a void which it will be difficult to fill.
In Politics he was a Conservative, and was on the commission of the peace for Pembrokeshire.
Aboout a couple of months ago he suffered from an attack of acute rheumatism, but appeared to have recovered his usual health. On the day of his death he was suddenly seized with some cardiac disorder, and expired in about a quarter of an hour. Dr Floyd, of Birknhead, attended him during his last fatal attack.”
Crimea medal contemporarily hand engraved in professional “Hunt and Roskill” style: “Essex Bowen Royal Artillery”
Al Valore officially engraved in script on reverse: “Asst Surgeon Essex Bowen Rl Arty.”
Both medals confirmed on the medal rolls.
One of 2 Medical Officers of the Royal Artillery awarded the Al Valore Medal, the other being Surgeon W. Perry.
Surgeon Bowen was decorated with his Al Valore in July 1857 during a presentation ceremony at Woolwich Garrison being handed this medal by Colonel Bloomfield, ADC to the Queen.
Al Valore Citation:
“Served at the Battle of Inkermann; was also present throughout the whole of the Siege of Sebastopol; Served in the Trenches from October 1854 (The First Bombardment) to May 1855.”
Dr Essex Bowen, was a highly respected Surgeon and Doctor, who devoted his life to medicine.
Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales to a wealthy family, being born at Llwyngwair Manor in Nevern, the family home.
The house is these days still standing as the
The Bowen Family of Llwyngwair are recalled here:
https://biography.wales/article/s-BOWE-LLW-1600
His older brother was James Bevan Bowen MP, who a two-time Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire.
He went to London to study Medicine at St Thomas Hospital, graduating MRCS on 7th June 1850, followed by LSA in 1851.
After the war he graduated MD from St Andrews Hospital in 1858, followed by becoming FRCS on 25th November 1864.
In his spare time he was also a JP, Justice of Peace for Pembrokeshire.
Upon graduating joined the Army, becoming Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Artillery in April 1854, just in time to get posted to war, with whom he went off to Crimea with.
He first fought with Cholera on the way there, men were dying by the dozen on the ship and he alongside his trusted Hospital Sergeant seemed to have saved many lives.
For his service he was decorated with this “Sardinian Al Valore” Medal aka the Sardinian War Medal for his distinguished service at Inkermann and through the entirety of the Siege of Sebastopol.
After returning home he took on the role of House Surgeon at Chester Infirmary, followed by in 1861 becoming House Surgeon at the Borough Infirmary in Birkenhead.
He would also by the Consulting Surgeon to Wirrall Children’s Hospital.
So well respected was Dr Bowen that when a legal case was brought against him for a patient’s broken arm during 1865, the case was handily won at court, notably a “Mr Jones” “had been requested by the attorney for the prosecution to appear against Dr Bowen; but he declared he would rather sacrifice his property, and even his life to do so, and he recommended the attorney to give up the case [Cheers]”
The British Medical Journey reported that the lengthy case was a great victory for Doctors against unjust prosecution, “In conclusion, he warmly vindicated the talents and standing of Dr Bowen; and pointed out how immense and unknown an injury might be done to a medical man by such unjustifiable attacks. he moved ‘That this meeting desires to express their deep sympathy with Dr Bowen for the annoyance to which he has been subjected in the trial of Pryce v Bowen; and to congratulate him on the very satisfactory manner in which he has vindicated his professional reputation.’ “
He made the following statement in his defence recalling these medals:
“I am a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and a Doctor of Medicine of St Andrews. I had considerable experience in St Thomas Hospital. I was Assistant-Surgeon to the Royal Artillery and served in the Crimea during the whole war.
I received a Crimean War Medal, with two calsps, and also a Sardinian War Medal.
I have been honourary surgeon to the Chester Infirmarary, and am present Surgeon to Birkenhead Hospital.”
Dr Bowen had a number of notable Children, with his two wives, Elizabeth Joanna Cecilia Lewis (1841-1872).
One of the sons with her was Hubert Cecil Bowen (1864-1956) the noted Alpine Climber who by the time of his death had 60 years in the Alpine Club and was the most senior surviving member.
One of his sons he had with his wife Edith Ann Bowen (nee Melhuish) was Lt Alan Bowen, Manchester Regiment, who went out to Gallipoli in WW1 and was killed in action on 7th August 1915.
CRIMEA
Notably on the way over to Crimea, Cholera broke out on board his ship, leading Dr Bowen to personally deal with the epidemic being assisted by his Hospital Sergeant Joss.
The Obituary of Sergeant Joss recalls Essex Bowen and his thoughts:
“That terrible scourge, Cholera, broke out on board the ship conveying the troops to the Crimea. Under the Superintendence of Essex Bowen, M.D., Assistant Surgeon, R.A., Sergeant Joss acted as Hospital Sergeant in charge of the troops on board ship in the Black Sea and in camp at Varna. At a time when men were dying daily on board the ship by the dozen, and when terror quailed the hearts of the bravest, Sergt Joss seemed to possess a charmed life, and, through working fearlessly with victims of that fell disease, he passed through it all unscathed. Of his many excellent testimonials from officers of all ranks, there was none o which the deceased was more justly proud than that in which Surgeon Wrote as follows: –
“Durin this period the expeditionary Army was visited by a most severe epidemic of Cholera, the disease becoming intensely distressing when working its ravages amongst crowded troops on board ship.
It was here that I had (in common with all the officers on board) a singularly good opportunity of noting the coolness, self possession and thorough willingness, with which at any time, night or day, Sergeant Joss was at his post, attending the panic stricken sufferers. Here, indeed, as whenever I have seen him, his first and chief endeavour was to do his duty.”
Following the war, an extensive report was launched “Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Supplies of the British Army in the Crimea.” Surgeon Bowen provided a report of his experiences to the enquiry which is all recorded from his time with the “E” Field Battery.
The detailed questions are all answered in full giving his personal opinion and insight into the war.
Here are the questions asked, full answers are available in the report:
“Essex Bowen, Answers of Essex Bowen, Assistant Surgeon to the E Field Battery of the Royal Artillery, to the queries of the Commissioners, relative to the manner in which the Regimental Hospital has been supplied with medicines and medical comforts. Page 317
Reason of the unusual sickness and mortality in the corps. Page 339
Effect of the issue of salt meat upon the health of the men. Page 349
Occasions of soft bread being issued to the troops Page 357
Period of the supply of the troops with fresh vegetables and lime juice. Page 367-8
Arrangements made for cooking the soldiers rations, Page 389
Opinion with respect to the substitution of porter for the extra ration of spirits. Page 397
Further Suggestions of Essex Bowen, Assistant Surgeon of E Field battery with a view to the improvement of the health of the troops on active service in the field, Page 421-422.”
PRESENTATION OF THE AL VALORE, SOUTH LONDON JOURNAL 21st July 1857.
DISTRIBUTION OF SARDINIAN CRIMEAN MEDALS TO THE ROYAL ARTILLERY.
On Wednesday last, the whole of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich Garrison, were assembled on the common to witness the presentation of medals, in accordance with the following General Regimental Orders:—
His Majesty the King of Sardinia, having conferred medals upon various officers and men for services with the army in the Crimea, her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of their receiving and wearing the same. The medals will be forwarded to the stations where the officers and men are serving, and commanding officers are requested to present the same on parade, with every formality which may tend to impress upon the recipients the value of the decoration.” At nine o’clock, Field Batteries, the Foot Artillery, and the bands drawn up in due order, the post of honour being assigned to the following officers and men…
Asst Surgeon Essex Bowen…
…Colonel BLOOMFIELD (Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, and second in command at Woolwich), attended by a brilliant staff of officers, having briefly inspected the troops, the names of the officers and men to whom the honour was awarded were called out by Capt. Freath, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, and Colonel Bloomfield presented the medals, at the same time heartily shaking hands with each recipient. The gallant officer then, in the course of a most appropriate and feeling address, expressed the great pleasure he experienced in finding that the constancy and bravery of British soldiers was appreciated and rewarded by a monarch who had proved himself a valuable ally to this nation, and enjoined upon all present to persevere in the pursuance of that good conduct and those soldier-like qualities which paved the way for promotion to every man in the service. The bands then performed the National Anthem, and the troops marched to quarters. The medal is in every respect a beautiful specimen of art.”
