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The DSO trio to Captain H J V Phillips, 3rd SWB, is here.

The DSO group to Major G C Palmes, SWB, is here.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

East and West Africa 1887 (2) Benin 1897, 1899 (Lieut. N. Burrows, Loyal N. Lancs. Regt.);
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Major N. Burrows, S. Wales Bord.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (Major N. Burrows, S. Wales Bord.) engraved naming;
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Major N. Burrows)

Norman Burrows was born on 15 October 1868 and was educated at Sedbergh School. Commissioned Second Lieutenant from the Militia in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in January 1891, he embarked with the 1st Battalion for India and was promoted Lieutenant in October 1892; he was fortunate to emerge unscathed from the 'Nagpur Railway Disaster' in November 1891, when 11 men from the Battalion were killed.

Appointed an Acting Vice-Consul in the Niger Coast Protectorate in February 1895, Burrows undertook administrative and judicial duties over a very large area. He also performed good work in the Benin operations of 1897, when, as a Volunteer in the Niger Coast Protectorate Force, he came to the notice of Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson for reconnaissance work:
‘Captain Burrows, who, with Captain Cockburn, ascertained the nature of the country between Ceri and Ologbo Beach, on both sides of the creek’ (London Gazette 7 May 1897).

A fuller account of that valuable work was reported by Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce Hamilton:
‘I take this opportunity of mentioning here the very excellent work done by Messrs. Burrows and Lyon in this district during a most trying and anxious time. They have both acted with great energy and tact in most difficult circumstances. Mr. Burrows has done most useful work in surveying the water approaches to Ikuru and Ologbo. Before I arrived, and a few days after the facts of the expedition were known, he took a few men with him and burnt Ologbo.’

As Rear-Admiral Rawson's force closed the outskirts of Benin in February 1897, Burrows was again cited for his good work by Hamilton:
‘Captain Burrows, who worked the leading Maxim throughout most creditably and was often in positions of considerable danger’ (London Gazette 7 May 1897).

Specially promoted to Captain in the South Wales Borderers and given a Brevet Majority, Burrows returned to his administrative and judicial duties, and having been appointed a District Commissioner in 1898, was actively engaged in the Ologbo Sheri operations in 1899, when he was Mentioned in Despatches for a third time, for his 'exceptional zeal' as a column leader, and for undertaking risks which his position did not require him to take (London Gazette 14 September 1900).

An illustration of the risks that Burrows undertook may be found in a report he submitted concerning an operation he mounted against an enemy camp near Obuiho on 4 May 1899:
‘Taking 12 men, I myself proceeded in search of one of the enemy's camps, which I found to be close to the town. I surprised the camp, and after having one shot, which wounded a man, reported to Obohun's headman. I rushed in and captured two other men, six guns and a pistol. The remaining three who were in the camp and got away, were afterwards brought in’

Burrows relinquished his position in late 1899, the outbreak of the Boer War necessitating his deployment as a District Commandant. He served in South Africa in that capacity until September 1902, at Queenstown, Burghersdorp, Modder River and Boshof (Queen’s South Africa Medal and 2 clasps; and King's South Africa Medal and 2 clasps). Following a period of leave, he returned to South Africa in 1903, as a Special Commissioner on the Compensation Board. Returning to the U.K., he was attached to the Army Service Corps from 1904 to 1906, before being appointed Adjutant of the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion, Border Regiment, in April 1906.

Placed on the Retired List in May 1909, Burrows took up the office of Deputy Governor of H.M. Prison Pentonville. The prison had taken over the role as north London's execution centre on the closure of Newgate in 1902, as well as being a training centre for future executioners. In consequence, in his term of office from May 1909 until the outbreak of the Great War, Burrows would have witnessed the execution of several notorious murderers, all carried out by Chief Executioner John Ellis, among them Dr. Hawley Crippen and Frederick Seddon. Whilst at Pentonville he made an unsuccessful application for the post of Chief Constable of West Sussex.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Burrows was appointed to the command of the 7th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, in which capacity he served until taking up duty as a Railway Transport Officer, graded as Staff Captain, in May 1915. Advanced to Major in September of the same year, he subsequently served as Assistant Provost Marshal to 62nd Division from March to August 1916, before transferring to the 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Placed on the Reserve of Officers in July 1919, he was appointed Governor of H.M. Prison Wakefield, and died in October 1922.

Sold with various photographic images and a large file of copied research, including medal roll extracts, official correspondence and reports; together with a host of glowing testimonials submitted on his application for the post of Chief Constable of West Sussex in the summer of 1912.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (7561 Pte J. Lyons, S. Wales Bord:), officially re-impressed;
KSA (2) (752 Tpr: J. Lyons. S.A.C.)

J Lyons initially served with the Volunteer Company, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, before transferring to the South African Constabulary.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO GV;
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902, all except the SA02 clasp contemporary tailor’s copies (Lieut. H. G. C. Fowler. S. Wales Bord:) engraved naming;
1914-15 Star (Capt. H. G. C. Fowler. S. Wales Bord:);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID Lt. Col. H. G. C. Fowler.)

DSO London Gazette 24 August 1915. ‘For great gallantry on the 18th and 19th June, 1915, during operations on the Gallipoli Peninusla. In a counter attack on a Turkish trench he lead the party that eventually cleared it. This officer threw some 30 bombs, some of which were enemy bombs which he picked up and threw back at great personal risk.’

MID London Gazette 22 June 1915 and London Gazette 22 June 1918.

Hugh Griffith Coke Fowler was born in Brecon on 12 January 1882. He was commissioned into Highland Light Infantry and served with the 3rd Battalion. Advanced Lieutenant on 31 July 1900, he transferred into the South Wales Borderers and served in South Africa during the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion (clasp entitlement unconfirmed). He qualified as a Frist Class Russian interpreter and was advanced Captain on 1 February 1913, he served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion from 1 December 1914, and was wounded at Festubert on 21 December 1914, and saw further service at Gallipoli with the 2nd Battalion. Captain C. T. Atkinson’s The History of the South Wales Borderers 1914-18 refers: ‘The action at Turkey Trench began with a Turkish bombardment in the evening on June 18th. Around 8.30 p.m. the Turks attacked, at first they were beaten off but soon overwhelmed the defenders and got into the North West end of Turkey Trench. They advanced, cutting off the South Wales Borderers from the Inniskillings on their right. A joint party of the Inniskillings and South Wales Borderers attempted to regain Turkey Trench, and although they were initially successful the Turks fought back. At 11.15 p.m. Captain Walker and a bombing party attacked but were unable to relieve the pressure. Throughout the night more attempts were made to drive the Turks out, including artillery fire on the Trench. These efforts had limited success and the fighting seesawed back and forth through the night until 4.45 a.m. when the final counterattack was mounted.

This was made by Captain Fowler, Regimental Sergeant Major Westlake and some bombers supported by Captain Walker, Captain O’Sullivan of the Inniskillings and some men of both Battalions. The party was headed by Private Woods, who cleared the way with the bayonet, while Private Matthews kept down the enemy’s enfilading fire. Both men did magnificently exposing themselves fearlessly and pushing steadily on. By 5.15am thirty yards had been won back, by 5.45 a.m. seventy, half an hour later the whole trench was in British hands. Captain Fowler had been splendid and inspired his men by his gallantry, having exhausted his own bombs he picked up Turk’s bombs and threw them back with great effect.

The Turks retiring in daylight were cut down in the open by machine gun fire. A final attack by the Turks was then repulsed and the exhausted South Wales Borderers and Inniskillings began rebuilding the defences and caring for casualties. Each Battalion lost around 80 dead and wounded and there were 91 dead Turks in and around Turkey Trench, with many more on the open ground beyond. Captain Fowler was recommended for a Victoria Cross and received the Distinguished Service Order, whilst Private Woods and Private Matthews were each awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.’

Advanced Lieutenant Colonel, he died, aged 65, in Brecon, on 7 February 1947.

The DCM group to Corporal H Rand, SWB, is here.