236627 RSM. Frederick Bowden British Army 11th Btn Sherwood Foresters from:Furness Vale, Derbyshire Fred Bowden was a stonemason with Great Western Railways and a Territorial before the War. He served for the entire war including the first day of the Somme at Authuille Wood near Albert. He is the only name mentioned in the Regimantal Diary in the planning for the Sommes battle. "Lance-Corporal Fred Bowden to take charge of prisoners". He won a Military Medal at San Sisto Ridge, Asiago in Italy in 1918, no citation exists.
In the final weeks of the war a shell took out one inch of his shin and he spent several months in Scotland convincing surgeons not to amputate his leg. He wore special shoes from this time on due to his shorter leg. He finished the war as a Regimental Colour-Sergeant and a photograph exists of him wearing a red sash over his uniform.
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