Distinguished Service Order, (EDV11), silver-gilt and enamels, Queen’s South Africa clasp, Natal (Lieut., Rl. Ind. Mar.), China 1900, no clasp (Lieut., R.I.M.), Africa General Service, clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut. in Comd., D.S.O., R.I.M.S. Dalhousie); 1914 Star (Commdr., D.S.O., R.N., Transport Staff), (initials ‘G. A.’), British War Medal, Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr., R.N.).
Prov. Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals. DNW , March 2007 £11,400 inc. premium
FOOTNOTE
D.S.O. London Gazette 26 June 1903:
‘In recognition of services during the occupation of China by International Troops.’
Two D.S.Os were awarded to officers of the Royal Indian Marine for the Boxer Rebellion
Alexander Rowand was born in August 1868, the son of the late Alexander Rowand of Glasgow, and was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham. Having then attended the training ship Worcester, and served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Shaw, Saville & Albion Co. Ltd., he was commissioned as a 3rd Grade Officer into the Royal Indian Marine in March 1889.
Advanced to Lieutenant in April 1895, he served as Assistant Marine Transport Officer during the Boer War, (mentioned in despatches), seved during the Boxer Rebellion, (again mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order). Served in the Somaliland operations of 1902-04, when he served as Lieutenant in Command of the Dalhousie.
Rowand retired from the Royal Indian Marine on 25 May 1909, having been promoted to Commander 2nd Grade in the previous year, but he returned to active duty with the Royal Navy in the Great War, initially serving as a member of the Transport Force at Marseilles in 1914, and Mentioned in despatches Lord French (London Gazette 1 January 1916 ).
