An original 19th Century soldier's notebook belonging to one 1787 Private George Dowsell of the 2nd Devon Regiment, based at Kwile, Kayin State, Burma during the Third Angle-Burmese War. The notebook has a clear bullet hole penetrating through the centre, stopping short at the last page. To one page Dowsell has written in ink 'Speak not this book for fear of shame, for here you will see the owners name. No. 1787 Pte George Dowsell 2nd Devon Regiment. Done by a bullet when in my pocket at Kyain Kwile Loung (sic) on Sunday the 22nd of February, 1891'. The notebook features only a few other notes, namely some names and addresses of family members. It was likely a fairly new notebook at the time, which never had chance to be filled out. Another page references Schwebo, Burma. A remarkable piece of history. Provenance: Consigned from the family. This notebook directly relates to the next lot (Lot 51). George Dowsell was the Father of William John Dowsell whose First World War medals appear in said lot. History of the 2nd Devonshire Regiment during the Anglo-Burmese War (from devonheritage.org): In October 1890 men of the 2nd Battalion set off for the three locations chosen to be defensive bases in case of insurrection - Schwebo. Bhamo and Bernardmyo. The plan was for two companies of men to be stationed at each place. They knew only too well that the terrain and climate in that part of Burma were some of the harshest conditions in the world and that they had to keep a constant vigil knowning they were never safe from ambush, even behind their stockades. Burma was not considered to have been pacified so the 2nd Battalion was not relieved of its involvement in that country until well into 1892. The men chosen to defend the Empire in these remote places were all young, fit and well when they disappeared into the jungle in 1890 but the sad photos which follow indicate quite another story and go a long way to explaining why the physical condition of the regiment was so poor when they were called upon to take part in the 2nd Boer War a few years later.
An original 19th Century soldier's notebook belonging to one 1787 Private George Dowsell of the 2nd Devon Regiment, based at Kwile, Kayin State, Burma during the Third Angle-Burmese War. The notebook has a clear bullet hole penetrating through the centre, stopping short at the last page. To one page Dowsell has written in ink 'Speak not this book for fear of shame, for here you will see the owners name. No. 1787 Pte George Dowsell 2nd Devon Regiment. Done by a bullet when in my pocket at Kyain Kwile Loung (sic) on Sunday the 22nd of February, 1891'. The notebook features only a few other notes, namely some names and addresses of family members. It was likely a fairly new notebook at the time, which never had chance to be filled out. Another page references Schwebo, Burma. A remarkable piece of history. Provenance: Consigned from the family. This notebook directly relates to the next lot (Lot 51). George Dowsell was the Father of William John Dowsell whose First World War medals appear in said lot. History of the 2nd Devonshire Regiment during the Anglo-Burmese War (from devonheritage.org): In October 1890 men of the 2nd Battalion set off for the three locations chosen to be defensive bases in case of insurrection - Schwebo. Bhamo and Bernardmyo. The plan was for two companies of men to be stationed at each place. They knew only too well that the terrain and climate in that part of Burma were some of the harshest conditions in the world and that they had to keep a constant vigil knowning they were never safe from ambush, even behind their stockades. Burma was not considered to have been pacified so the 2nd Battalion was not relieved of its involvement in that country until well into 1892. The men chosen to defend the Empire in these remote places were all young, fit and well when they disappeared into the jungle in 1890 but the sad photos which follow indicate quite another story and go a long way to explaining why the physical condition of the regiment was so poor when they were called upon to take part in the 2nd Boer War a few years later.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
/116684/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
/116156/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
/67334/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
