Born in the parish of St. Luke's, Dublin, c.1826.
[PB: Possibly a close relative of 965 William Bowen, since both were born in Dublin, and enlisted in the 8th Hussars at much the same time?]
Enlisted at Dublin on the 16th of March 1846.
Aged 19 years 8 months.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: None shown.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Brown eyes. Black hair.
Tried and imprisoned from the 15th of May — 24th of June 1850, 15th of July — 26th of August 1850, and 15th of July — 29th of August 1851.
Tried, and custody of the Civil Power from the 13th of November — 10th of December 1852, and tried by a District Court-martial on the 17th of December 1855 for "being absent from his post and habitual drunkenness." He was sentenced to 50 lashes and to lose 1d. per day for two years, but the 50 lashes were remitted.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Echunga" on the 12th of April 1854.
At Scutari General Hospital from the 22nd of September 1854 and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 11th of October 1854.
Discharged from Dundalk on the 25th of October 1856:
"Reduction of the Army and being totally unfit for further service.Has chronic rheumatism directly attributable to cold and exposure when quartered in Cobham Camp, Surrey, in 1853. He is not an efficient soldier."
Served 10 years 57 days. In Turkey and the Crimea 1 year 10 months. Aged 30 years 3 months on discharge.
Conduct: "Indifferent." Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
He intended to live in Dublin after discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
To follow up: May have participated in the Sore-back Reconnaissance.
Fanny Duberly's Journal 29th June records an exhausted soldier called "Bowen" returned early to camp on Captain Lockwood's horse:
"We had no news of Lord Cardigan's patrol until after dinner, when Bowen rode into the lines on Captain Lockwood's roan horse, who bore him feebly to the picket ropes, and then fell down. For many minutes he appeared dying of exhaustion, but eventually we revived him with brandy and water. Bowen tells us that the squadrons will not return for some days; that their fatigue has been excessive, and their hardships great. They appear to have been marching incessantly, for which hard work neither men nor horses are fit."
Laurence Crider comments (email c.2014?): "Could be either 965 Pte George Bowen or 933 Pte William Bowen. From this testimony, we can be reasonably certain someone named Bowen, of the 8th Hussars (since an officer of that regiment allowed him to use the horse), was on the reconnaissance. As neither was listed on "Outpost Duty", there is no means using this evidence, of determining which "Bowen" was being referred to."
He adds (what I think must be) that neither is listed on Outpost Duty 3rd Muster [check].