Born in Christchurch, Co. Cork, c.1830.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 3rd of May 1848.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: None shown.
From Private to Corporal, 2nd of February 1855.
Sent to Scutari and invalided to England on the 16th of February 1855.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 29th of August 1856.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The July-September 1858 muster rolls show him as being "On Field Service" from September of this period.
Sent money from the Crimea to a Mrs. Cattermole in London. Possibly the wife of T.S.M. William Cattermole, 17th Lancers was his sister. [For confirmation, see below.] He also sent money to his mother, Margaret Bowen. (No address is shown.)
Embarked for England from India on the 2nd of January 1861 and at the Maidstone Depot from the 29th of April.
Discharged, "Limited service expired", from Maidstone on the 4th of May 1861. To live at Retford after discharge.
He re-enlisted into the Army, joining the 10th Hussars at York on the 2nd of November 1861. His discharge documents showing the following details:
Born in Christchurch, Co. Cork.
Age: 31.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Shoemaker.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Auburn hair.
Previous service of 12 years 361 days in the 17th Lancers allowed to count towards pension, by Authority of the War Office, letter, dated the 17th of May 1862.
From Private to Corporal, 24th of August 1863.
Discharged, "Invalided", from London on the 9th of November 1865:
"Suffers from Phthisis Pulmonary — softening of the left lung. At the present he could not contribute towards earning a living and the disease will no doubt increase."
Served 17 years 184 days. Aged 35 years 5 months on discharge.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Conduct and character:
"Has been that of a very good and efficient soldier and non-commissioned officer. Zealous in his duties, alert and trust-worthy."
In possession of two Good Conduct badges. Awarded a pension of 1/- per day, but this was increased to 1/6d. per day from the 14th of August 1866.
He said he intended to live at Worksop after discharge, but was living in Kilkenny in 1866. [PB: However, he died at Worksop in 1867.]
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, being recommended for this on the 19th of January 1855, with a gratuity of £5, but it is not known under what circumstances.
Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals and also that "he has the D.C.M. for his conduct in the field". There is no mention of the Mutiny medal.
John Bowen died at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, on the 12th of November 1867, at the home of his brother-in-law, William G. Cattermole, late "A" Troop, Sergeant Major of the 17th Lancers.
EJB: This confirms the belief that the two were related. (See a printed copy of an obituary notice which appeared in an unknown publication, in the 17th Lancer file.)
He was buried in the Priory Churchyard of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert's at Worksop on the 16th of November 1867, aged 38 years. A search of the area, now [1980s?] very overgrown, shows no trace of a headstone.