b. 28/08/1891 Dysart, Fife, Scotland. d. 27/08/1919 Rosyth, Fife, Scotland.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 27/08/1919 Rosyth, Fife, Scotland.
Joseph was born in Dysart, Fife on 28th August 1891, the son of Joseph and Catherine Morgan Bowman. He had two sisters Henrietta and Isabella, and a brother James. Following his schooling, Joseph gained employment at HM Dockyard at Rosyth. He was killed the day befoe his 28th birthday. His Albert Medal was presented to his sister Isabella by King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1920.
AM CITATION:
The KING has been pleased to award the Albert Medal in recognition of the gallant conduct of William Mathers and Joseph Bowman, two Dockyard workmen, in endeavouring at the cost of their own lives to save the life of Able Seaman Arthur Henry Brewer at Rosyth on the 27th August last. Brewer had descended into the Wet Provision Room of H.M.S. ” Tiger,” in company with J. H. Anderson, a shipwright, when he was overcome by poisonous gases and collapsed. Anderson, himself feeling the effect of the gases, left the compartment as quickly as possible to obtain assistance, and Mathers and Bowman, who were near to the scene, descended without hesitation to endeavour to rescue Brewer. They did not wait for further assistance or for safety appliances, though they were fully aware of the cause of Brewer’s collapse and consequently, of the grave risk they were running. They were at once overcome by the noxious: gases in the compartment, and when removed were in an unconscious condition. Every endeavour was made to restore them to consciousness, but without success.
BURIAL LOCATION: DYSART CEMETERY, DYSART, FIFE, SCOTLAND.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HELD BY FAMILY.
