The descendants of Squadron Leader Leonard Ernest Dowse are searching for his missing war service medals. A veteran of the Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, Leonard was an ex-airship hand who went on to serve as an Air Armaments Officer.
Leonard Ernest Dowse was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire in September 1888 and entered the Royal Marine Artillery in August 1906. He then transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in September 1912, most probably on account of his proficiency in gunnery – he scored 95% in 1907-08. Remaining employed in the U.K., he was advanced to Warrant Officer 2nd Class at the Barrow in Furness Airship Station in June 1917, where indeed he is listed as a gunnery specialist.
IMAGE RIGHT: The missing war service medals of Squadron Leader Leonard Ernest DOWSE who served with the Royal Air Force.
Granted a commission in the Royal Air Force at the War’s end, he became a Technical Officer at the Airship Base at Howden in 1920, prior to being posted to No. 84 Squadron’s at Shaiba, Iraq in March 1922, and thence to No. 2 Armoured Car Company in Palestine. Returning to the U.K. in July 1926, he was employed as Air Armament Officer at No. 10 Group, Gosport, but in December 1932 he was posted in a similar capacity to No. 216 Squadron at Heliopolis in the Middle East. Once more returning to the U.K. in 1937, when he joined No. 1 Bomber Group at Upper Heyford.
IMAGE LEFT: The auction listing posted by U.K. based auctioneers, Dix Noonan and Webb. To visit their website, please CLICK HERE
Leonard Ernest Dowse was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Squadron Leader in August 1941. He died in February 1963. My family has learned that the medals sold at auction to an unknown buyer, back in 2011. Sold by DNW (Dix Noonan Webb, 16 Bolton Street Piccadilly London). Should the current owner not wish to part with these medals, we would be most grateful just to know that they are safe and that our Great Grandfather’s war service is being respected and appreciated. Should the current owner ever decide to sell these medals, our family would be very appreciative if we could be given the first opportunity to make the purchase. Yours gratefully. Descendants of Leonard Ernest DOWSE.
