John Bowler MC (Welch Regiment)
It is very great regret that we must announce the death of John Bowler MC, WELCH Regiment aged 90 on 19 March in hospital in Oxford. His wife, Gill, and their daughter were with him when he died. John commissioned into the Welch Regiment on 9 June 1951. He was deployed with the Battalion to Korea where he was awarded a Military Cross.
On the night of the 3/4 May 1952 2Lt Bowler was in command of the fighting patrol where task was to make a raid on an enemy defended locality. Part of the approach to the objective was a long 800 yards of a feature which had not been previously recorded but where enemy opposition might be expected. When the patrol reached within 200 yards of the objective 2Lt Bowler halted it, and with one man crawled forward to make a slow recce of the objective so that he could decide on his detailed plan for the assault. To achieve this he and the other men had to crawl over open country in moonlight to within 20 yards of the objective.
Having made his recce 2Lt Bowler returned to his patrol and gave out his orders for the assault. This was carried out most gallantly and successfully, the enemy being taken by surprise. After a time, it became apparent that the enemy were in platoon strength on the objective and were also reinforcing. 2Lt Bowler then ordered his patrol to withdraw. This was carried out in a highly efficient and praiseworthy manner which reflects all the major credit on him in that a number of enemy followed up the patrol and some small parties got round behind and tried to cut the patrol off.
Throughout this patrol this young national service officer displayed courage and initiative of the highest order. His task was not an easy one as his objective was some 3000 yards from our FDLs and some 600 yards deeper in enemy territory than any patrol has penetrated for some five months. Furthermore, the exact location of the enemy FDLs had not been fully established and no close recce of the objective had been carried out. Nevertheless, 2Lt Bowler carried out his task with skill and determination and with a keen desire to get to grips with the enemy.
This was also most marked on several other occasions when he led fighting patrols in enemy territory. This he was doing frequently during the period December 1951 to March 1952 when he was involved on quite a few occasions in sharp engagements with the enemy from which he emerged with considerable credit to himself.
On an occasion in December 1951, he led a daylight patrol to a Hill feature named Pt 169 MR CT 106120 with the objective of observing and reporting on enemy positions and movement. During the afternoon he came under mortar fire and was shelled by an SP gun. He refused to move to a safer area and in spite of the lack of cover he continued to try and locate the gun and mortar positions. Later he did locate them and whilst still under fire, he directed the artillery on to them until they were both silenced.
He also led other daylight patrols on this Hill 169 MR CT 106120. It was always under enemy observation and was occupied by them at night while a patrol from the battalion reoccupied it by Day. The re-occupation by daylight was always hazardous as there was no approach either than up the very steep southern slope, and there was no guarantee, until the patrol reached the top that the enemy had evacuated it after the previous night.
On all these occasions 2Lt Bowler displayed great coolness under fire, which, allied to his initiative, his sound judgement and his tactical ability, inspired and set a splendid example to those he led.
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John was concerned about the soldiers under his command. He had 3 soldiers from his platoon killed in Korea. His involvement and interest in his soldiers are shown in this correspondence with Regimental Headquarters:
"Corporal Greaves was one of my men and he died in my arms. He had been hit by a small Chinese mortar and all he said was ‘My God’. If he had not taken the full blast, I would have done so”.
I believed he had a young wife and family. This troubled me and I asked my Father to visit her and report back to me as to whether she needed support. My Father had served in the trenches for 3 years in WW1, won 2 MCs and 2 MIDs, was wounded twice, second time badly, so he was well aware of the trauma of war. He visited her and reported back that she had strong family support around her and was as well as could be hoped".
John left the Regular Army shortly after the end of his National Service and spent a time in the Territorial Army. After he left the army he went into the family hatter business. He left the family Hatter Business and went into advertising. He was, for one year of office “Master of The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London”. John also became very much involved with The British Korean Veterans’ Association and was a lifelong trustee of the residual organisation. In that capacity he drafted the wording for “The Korean War Memorial” dedicated on the Victoria Embankment London on 3rd December 2014.
The funeral will be held at:
Saint Stephen’s Church, Pound Lane, Clanfield, Oxfordshire, OX18 2RS
at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 5th April 2023.
If you plan on attending, the family request you email them in advance at:
jlandgmbowler@gmail.com
Letters of Condolence may be sent to:
Mrs Gill Bowler
The Old Barn
Bampton road
Clanfield
Oxfordshire
OX18 2RG
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Best regards
RHQ The Royal Welsh
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