A Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, together with 1914-15 Star trio to Corporal T. Stower, Highland Light Infantry, who served with the Gloucester Regiment during the Boer War where he was posted Missing In Action during the fighting at Farquhar’s Farm, on 30th October 1899, and was later released.
Four: Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1899 - 1902, 3 clasps: Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4225 Pte. T. STOWER, GLOUC: REGt.); 1914-15 Star (1811 L.CPL. T. STOWER, HIGH: L.I.); British War and Victory medals (1811 CPL. T. STOWER, H.L.I.).
Condition. Good Very Fine.
Thomas John Stower was born in Clifton, Bristol an 18 year 9 month old Labourer and serving member of the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment he attested for the Regular Army at Bristol 24th November 1893. Posted to the 1st Battalion from the Depot 29th March 1894. Imprisoned by his Commanding Officer for 14 days with hard labour for using obscene and insulting language. The same sentence was awarded 12th May 1899 with the forfeiture of a Good Conduct Badge for using insubordinate language to an NCO.
Serving overseas in Malta 18th March 1893 to 20th November 1895, Egypt 21st November 1895 to 5th February 1897, India 6th February 1897 to 10th September 1899, South Africa 20th September 1899 to 23rd August 1900. **Missing in action and taken prisoner of war at Farquhar's Farm 30th October 1899to 23rd August 1900. Missing in action and taken prisoner of war at Farquhar’s Farm 30th October 1899 he was later released by the Boers. Stowe qualified as a Mounted Infantryman 31st October 1896 in Egypt, he transferred to the Army Reserve 9th April 1904 and enlisted into Section “D” Army Reserve 11th December 1905, he married in Bristol, Margaret Richardson Laing 23rd February 1902. Queen’s South Africa confirmed correct on the roll TNA WO100/183 page 328. By the time of the outbreak of the First World War Stower had moved to Scotland (not recorded on the 1911 England and Wales census) he attested for the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry TF.
The 1/7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry formed part of 157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade, 52nd Lowland Division.
Although some elements of the division had gone direct to the Gallipoli Peninsula, and others sailed on quickly from Alexandria, 157th (HLI) Brigade on the Transylvania was turned back to Alexandria and the troops went back into camp. The battalion was not re-embarked until 28 June (aboard the Maulitor), arriving at Mudros on 1st July, Imbros on 2nd July, and finally landing at Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 3rd July 1915.
The 7th HLI moved into the firing line and support trenches on 5th July for its first short tour of duty under the guidance of the Royal Naval Division. It was back in the line on 11th July and took part in the attack on Trenches E10 and F12 on 12 July (the action at Achi Baba Nullah). Under the command of Lt-Col Galbraith, the battalion advanced at 16.50 on the right of the brigade in four waves. Despite heavy shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire, it took the Turkish front and support trenches without much difficulty, and the two leading waves pushed on to the third line, Trench E12. They discovered too late that this was nothing more than a scrape in the ground and offered no cover. They tried to hold on to this until the trench behind (E11) had been consolidated, but casualties were heavy and at 18.00 the CO allowed the leading waves to withdraw to E11. Consolidation was difficult because of the number of dead in the trenches. The following morning the battalion came under heavy enfilade fire and retreated, but Lt-Col Galbraith rallied the men, charged, and re-took their positions by 07.00. By the time it was relieved on 15 July, 1/7th HLI had lost six officers and 40 other ranks (ORs) killed, 2 officers and 149 ORs wounded, and 53 ORs missing.
For the next three months, 1/7th HLI alternated with 1/5th and 1/6th HLI in the front line at 'the Horseshoe' and 'Argyle Street', broken by spells in reserve in the 'Redoubt Line', 'Wigan Road' and 'No 1 Australian Lines'. On the night of 20th October, the battalion made a small attack on Trench H11A, and established a 'bomb sap', then repulsed a Turkish counter-attack (total casualties 2 killed and 8 wounded). Moving up into the firing line on 21 November the battalion suffered shellfire and several Turkish attacks, which were easily repulsed. Manning recently captured trenches G11A and G12 on 21 November, 1/7th HLI endured heavy bombardment and bombing from aircraft. Being on the high ground on the west of the Nullah, the battalion was able to bring down enfilade fire on the Turks attacking the neighbouring 1/5th HLI, and the Turkish attack failed. Casualties from sickness during the hot summer had been heavy, and the attrition continued through the bitter winter weather. By now it had been decided to evacuate the force. The Sulva and ANZAC positions were evacuated on the night of 19/20 December, and 1/7th HLI contributed three bombing teams (2 officers and 26 ORs) to 157th Brigades elaborate diversionary attack that night and kept two companies in brigade reserve. The attack went badly and the reserves were required to support the bombing parties. The following night 1/7th HLI had to garrison the line for the weakened Brigade.
Next it was the turn of the Helles position to be evacuated. The forces ashore were reduced from 31st December. On 1st January 1916 the battalion relieved the Anson Battalion of the RN Division at 'Hyde Park Corner'. The lines were then thinned out until on the night of 7/8 January battalion HQ and just 150 men, mainly machine gunners and signallers, held 'Eglington Tunnel' during the final evacuation. The last party to leave set up 'trip bombs' and automatically fired rifles and flare pistols to maintain the illusion that the line was still strongly held. The battalion was clear of the beach by 02.45 on 9 January and sailed aboard HMS Prince George for Mudros. The battalion had landed with 30 officers and 941 ORs and received 19 officers and 104 ORs as reinforcements. During the campaign it lost 7 officers and 709 ORs killed, 5 officers and 279 ORs wounded, 26 officers and 450 ORs evacuated to hospital sick, and 30 missing.
The 1/7th Highland Light Infantry arrived in Egypt in February 1916 and on 11th April 1918 left for France arriving on 17th April 1918 where it fought on until the Armistice. Corporal Stower was disembodied 22nd March 1919.
