Distinguished Conduct Medal : Private M D Cowtan, 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, AIF

Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Mawer Dougall Cowtan was born at Kensington, London in 1883. He emigrated to Australia and was working as a grazier in Tasmania when he enlisted in the AIF on 24 October 1914. After initial training he was assigned to 1 Australian Clearing Hospital as a private with the service number 1403, and embarked at Melbourne aboard HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 5 December 1914. After further training in Egypt, Cowtan landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and as a consequence of his efforts during the first days of the landing was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

The recommendation for the DCM reads: 'On the 25th April and subsequently, for distinguished conduct during the landing operations in the neighbourhood of Gaba Tepe. He was indefatigable during the 1st four days in giving aid and carrying water to the wounded, and his unswerving courage under fire was invaluable in its effect. The work of the casualty clearing station was carried out under great difficulties and was very heavy'.

In June 1915 Cowtan received a special mention in Divisional Orders for his conspicuous gallantry and valuable service in the period 25 April to 5 May. On 22 June he was evacuated to Egypt suffering from bronchitis. He returned to his unit on Gallipoli only to be evacuated again on 28 July to Alexandria, then on to England a week later, where he was treated in a London hospital and then at the Royal Mineral Water Hospital in Bath. He was discharged on 4 November with instructions to take leave. While still in England Cowtan was discharged from the AIF, on 6 February 1916, to be commissioned as a Quartermaster Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He returned to Australia soon after the end of the war.

• 1914-15 Star : Private M D Cowtan, 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, AIF
• British War Medal 1914-20 : Quartermaster Lieutenant M D Cowtan, Royal Army Medical Corps
• Victory Medal with MID : Quartermaster Lieutenant M D Cowtan, Royal Army Medical Corps