| Hare-Bowers | Dillon Aldworth | | Lieutenant | HARE-BOWERS, DILLON ALDWORTH, Lieutenant, was born at Marchwood, Hampshire, 26 September 1870, son of John Thomson Bowers, Captain, 6th Warwickshire Regiment and Cape Mounted Riflemen, who served through the Mutiny, and also in the Basutoland Campaign of 1881 by his wife, Henrietta, daughter of the Honourable Henry Hare. He was educated at Dale College, King William's Town, Cape Province, South Africa, and joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen, 26 October 1886, as a Private. He served in the Bechuanaland Campaign, 1897 (Medal and clasp), taking part in the engagements of Gamaloos, Oliphant's Hoek, Puduhusche, Gamaseh I and II; and for his services was promoted to commissioned rank as Lieutenant 1 July 1897. He again saw active service in the Anglo-Boer War, from December 1899, to the conclusion of hostilities. He was employed with the Field Intelligence Department, and was present in operations in the Orange Free State, March to May 1900, including the defence of Wepener; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, August to November 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to August 1900, including actions at Wittebergen (1 to 29 July); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in the Transvaal, December 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, November 1900 to March 1901; operations in Cape Colony, 1901-2. He was awarded the DSO for conspicuous gallantry at the capture of Letter's Commando, near Petersburg, in the Graarf-Reinet district; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 August and 15 November 1901], and was personally thanked for his services by General French, who on one occasion wired to him asking him to raise a detachment for active service at a time when the Boers were becoming particularly active in Cape Colony. Such a contingent was afterwards found to be unnecessary, but the fact that he was asked to raise it showed the high opinion General French had of him. He was thanked also by Colonel H Scobell (later Major General Sir H Scobell, KCVO), under whom he served during the latter part of the war as Intelligence Officer, who wrote: "Will you please keep my field-glasses as a small offering from me to you? I had always intended getting you some and having an inscription put on them, but as you have mine, I believe, keep them, please. If I had had them inscribed I should have said: 'From Colonel Scobell to Lieutenant Bowers, CMR. As a very small token of the regard, respect and admiration felt by Colonel Scobell towards one of the bravest officers and most thorough gentlemen it has ever been his good fortune to meet'. Lieutenant Hare-Bowers received the Queen's Medal with four clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps. He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Dillon Aldworth Hare-Bowers, Lieutenant, Cape Mounted Rifles. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". In December 1904, he became Adjutant of Prince Albert's Guard, Port Elizabeth, a position which he held for two years, raising them during that time to a high state of efficiency. He was then offered promotion as Squadron Commander of his old regiment, the Cape Mounted Rifles, in Griqualand, and accepted it. He was promoted Captain 1 December 1910. He carried out his military duties and those of police officer in a most efficient way, and was recommended for and obtained the position of District Officer under the Defence Scheme of 1911, the Resident Magistrate, Libode, South Africa (among many others) writing: "I have known this gallant officer all his life, and have watched his career, step by step, with great satisfaction. Captain Bowers has served with me as Police Officer, and did excellent service in the recovery of stolen stock from the above District, and I cannot speak too highly of the services he rendered, which met with great favour from the public at the time. Captain Bowers has a thorough knowledge of the languages, and I strongly recommend him for any position of trust". When the European War commenced Captain Hare-Bowers saw active service once more in the German South-West African campaign, and in the Boer rebellion in 1914-15, and was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service in the field in German South-West Africa. He commanded the 3rd Regiment South African Mounted Rifles for some months in German South-West Africa, including the rebellion of 1915, during the absence of the Commanding Officer, and was highly commended for his services by Major General Sir H T Lukin, KCMG, who commanded the Brigade. On the cessation of hostilities there Captain Hare-Bowers volunteered for active service in the main theatre of war. He was attached to the Royal Fusiliers; was promoted Temporary Major 3 February 1917, and served in France and Flanders in 1917 and 1918. He was promoted Major 1 December 1918. Major Hare-Bowers had two brothers serving in the European War, one a Sergeant in the Cape Mounted Rifles, the other in the South African Constabulary. His favourite recreations were cricket, tennis, golf and polo. On 17 October 1901, he married, at Umtata, Transvaal, South Africa, Alice, daughter of John and Alice Bishop, of Galbally, Tipperary, Ireland.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Cape Mounted Rifles |
