Post on behalf on Tim Needham. Question to forum members.

"After making some enquiries to the relevant church in Derbyshire, the attached photo was kindly sent to me. The headstone is in memory of 'John Cowle' who apparently served with the 17th Lancers during the Zulu War (& later with the Queens Bays in India & the Derbyshire Yeomanry thereafter). Upon inspecting the South African Medal Roll (17th Lancers), I could only find a Pte. J.C. Cowell (No.1575).
On looking closer at the actual lettering on the stone however, it seems as though a letter has come off after the 'e' of 'Cowle' (& to me looks suspiciously like a 'y' therefore indicating the surname Cowley?). As you may be able to see from the photograph this potentially missing letter would centralise the name in relation to the text both above & below, as it stands 'John Cowle' seems to be slightly off centre.
Again, I checked the roll & found a Pte. Cowley (No. 2218) but this time his initial is indicated as 'S' as opposed to 'J'. Just wondered if anybody had any further information which would shed any light on this individual?"

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Hi Pete / Tim. If i find anything i will post. Missing letter certainly looks like a ( Y )

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

Who are the "Queens Bays" scratch

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK

"1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards began its formal existence on January 1st 1959, this being the day when the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards was amalgamated with the 2nd Dragoon Guards, better known as the Queen’s Bays. Thus ended the separate identities of two of the oldest and most distinguished regiments in the British Army."
Source: 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

SURNAME COWLEY.
FORENAME J
REG. NO-2957
RANK Pte
DATE 1885
REG Bays

Source: 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards

Guest

Hi all,

The death, registered in Shardlow registration district March qtr 1932 at age 75 was for John Cowley Vol 7b page 658 of the register.

Cheers
Bookworm

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All and Tim

It is a Y that is missing on the grave.

Hopefully this is the information you require:

Regimental Service History of John Cowely

Joined at Aldershot on the 4th November 1874
First joined the 21st Hussars 31st Oct 1874 - 30th April 1877
16th Lancers 1st May 1877 - 14th Feb 1879
17th Lancers 15th Feb 1879 - 22nd March 1883
1st Class Army Reserve 23rd March 1883 - 7th May 1885
Permitted to Rejoin the Colours on 8th May 1885
2nd Dragoon Guards 8th May 1885 - 4th March 1893

John Cowley Service History

Home 31st Oct 1874 - 24th Feb 1879
South Africa 25th Feb 1879 - 17th Oct 1879
E. India 18th Oct 1879 - 22nd Jan 1883
Home 23rd Jan 1883 - 20th Nov 1885
India 21st Nov 1885 - 20th Feb 1893
Home 21st Feb 1893 - 4th March 1893

John Cowley's Service Numbers

21st Hussars - 1343
16th Lancers - 1457
17th Lancers - 2218 (Listed on medal roll as S Cowley)
2nd Dragoon Guards - 2957

If you need any further information, please email me Tim Idea

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