Charles John Cowley 275 6th Battalion Welsh regiment

[Sally B]

Below is the information I have found so far, I am trying to find the citation for the Military Cross he was awarded and the two 'mentioned in Dispatches' citations.

Name Charles John Cowley, born 3rd January 1882 in Swansea.

At the start of war he was already in 3rd Glamorgan Volunteer Rifle Corp , he was a Company Sergeant Major. He joined the 6th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, service number 275. He went to France on 29th October, 1914

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, published in the London Gazette on 30 March 1916. The citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably when directing a working party which repaired a trench under heavy artillery and trench mortar fire.

He was discharged from the ranks of the Territorial Force on 15 April 1916 on being granted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on 16 April 1916 and posted to the 6th Battalion The Welsh Regiment

2nd Lieutenant C J Cowley was appointed Temporary Captain Welsh Regiment whilst commanding a Company on 2 July 1916.

Promoted Acting Captain 22 July 1917

Promoted Acting Major 10 April 1918

He was awarded the Military Cross, notification published in the London Gazette on 1 January 1918 I cannot find a citation for this award.

He was also awarded two Mentioned in Despatches the first when a 2nd Lieutenant/Acting Captain on 25.5.1917 and one when a Lieutenant/Acting Major on 9.7.1919 again I have not been able to find citations.

He was awarded the following campaign medals:

1914 Star with clasp 5 Aug to 22 Nov 1914

British War medal

Victory medal

If anyone can help me establish the reason and circumstances for him being awarded the Military Cross or any other information about him , I would be most grateful.

Thank you.

[ralphjd]

M C gazetted 1 1 1918, probably a New Years Honour therefore no citation. Ralph.

[Bernard_Lewis]

Member smilingsixth is the man on the 6th Welsh.

I'll point this out to him but on my way out now...

Bernard

[smilingsixth]

There is no citation for the MC, so would have been for War Service's.

His medal group is about about, it was sold be a dealer a good few years ago, but do not have any records of when it was sold or when sorry.

Simon

Charles John Cowley

Volunteer Force

Enlisted into the 3rd Glamorgan Rifle Volunteer Corps 3.2.1899. Promoted Cpl 15.6.1904.

Territorial Force

Transferred 25.4.1908 into the 6th Bn, Welsh Regt T.F. on formation. Number 275. Rank: Cpl; Sgt 5.8.1914; C.S.M. 1.6.1915.

France 29.10.1914 – 15.4.1916.

Wounded 26.3.1916; to 141 Field Ambulance gunshot wound leg, sprained wrist; to 33 C.C.S. 2.4.1916; returned to duty 4.4.1916, rejoined Bn 5.4.1916.

Discharged 15.4.1916 on being commissioned.

Commissioned 2nd Lt 16.4.1916; Lt 16.10.1917; T/Capt 2.7.1916; A/Capt 22.7.1917; A/Major 10.4.1918.

D.C.M. L.G. 30.3.1916.

“For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably when directing a working party which repaired a trench under heavy artillery and trench mortar fire “

Regimental History p376 “Trench life was not conspicuous for incidents, but whenever an occasion arose, the Welshmen rose to it. Thus C.S.M. G. Cowley and Lance-Corporal Widlake both received the D.C.M. for repelling a German attack at Harrison’s Crater during a relief, and C.S.M. Turner (later R.S.M.) earned a similar reward when, with an R.E. officer and Sergeants Preece and King, he dug out under fire, 26 men who had been buried by the mouth of a shaft being blown in. The risk of being buried during the excavation was very real.”

Regimental History p436 Winter 1917/18 “Captain C. J. Cowley, D.C.M., who had just been awarded the M.C., became in Command 6th Welsh.”

Assistant Instructors’ Signalling Course, Aldershot 1.1.1906; 5.5.1913.

Honours and Awards

M.B.E. (for railway services in WW2)

Military Cross LG 1.1.1918 p34 (Lt A/Capt)

D.C.M. LG 30.3.1916.

1914 Star roll sup J/1/13 p71 (p275 C/Sgt 1/6th Bn -granted a commission as 2nd Lt 24.4.1916 in 6th Bn Welsh Regt)

British War Medal and Victory Medal roll Welch R. Off 138 p8 & rank and file roll J/1/104 B32 p12076 (Major)

Mentioned in Despatches LG 25.5.1917 p5158 (2 Lt, A/Capt).

Mentioned in Despatches LG 9.7.1919 ( Lt, A/Major).

[BFBSM]

He was awarded the T.F.E. Medal on 1-7-1911, whilst a sergeant in the 6th Battalion Welch Regt.

Mark

[Sally B]

Simon & Mark, thank you so much for the extra information, much appreciated.

[mm296725]

Hello,
I am also researching someone from the 6th Battalion Welsh regiment; a Humphrey John O'Brien born 5 March 1898 in Cardiff.
His service number was 65438.
I received his medal card from the National Archives
Medal card of O'Brien, Humphrey John Corps: Welsh Regiment Regiment No: 65438 Catalogue reference: WO 372/15/21707
I also found him in a Campaign Medal Rolls; he received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Humphrey John O'Brien Number 65438 Cpl. Service in the 6th Welch Regiment and Infantry Base Depot.
I also found a medical WWI record using his service number, and he was a private then.
He was under medical care for one day for influenza, 7-8 Nov 1918.
This was just a few days before the official end of the war, so it might be why he was released so quickly.
And this one says specifically which unit he was assigned to, the Welsh Regiment 6th Glamorgan Battalion C Company.
I also have a picture of him driving a Brough motorcycle and wearing a hat with the Royal Engineers badge on it.
I would greatly appreciate any help in receiving more information about his time in the military.
Sincerely,
Mike