View source for John Graham Bower

{{CommRN}} '''John Graham Bower''', D.S.O. (6 February, 1886 &ndash; 15 October, 1940) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Bower was born in South Africa the son of a decorated Commander in the British Army.  He gained two months time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} on 15 January, 1902.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower's first appointment was to the {{UK-Highflyer|f=t}}, then operating in the East Indies.  He left the ship when she paid off on 24 November, 1903.  On 9 December 1903, he received an appointment to join {{UK-Berwick}} of the {{UK-CS}}.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1907.{{NLMar13|p. 9}}

On 28 August, 1909, he was admitted to Haslar Hospital with an injury to his middle left finger.  He would eventually lose the digit and be granted a one month gratuity for the injury, on 15 October, 1909.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower was appointed in command of the {{UK-C34|f=t}} on 1 March, 1910.{{NLJul13|p. 280}}

In May of 1912, Bower was blamed for exerting insufficient supervision in an accident that caused torpedo with serial number 352 to commence its run within the tube of {{UK-C34}}.  In April of 1913, ''C 34'' collided with the {{UK-Invincible|f=t}}, an accident for which Bower was attributed a lesser degree of blame.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower applied to join the [[Royal Flying Corps]] around late 1912, but he withdrew his application on 17 January, 1913.  On 25 November, 1913, he was appointed to serve in the {{UK-Colossus|f=t}}.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

==Great War==
Bower served in ''Colossus'' until 1 July, 1915 when he was appointed to ''Thames'', additional for command of the {{UK-C6|f=t}}.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 31 December, 1915.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower was captain of {{UK-E42}} on 29 April, 1917 when she hit {{DE-UB23}} with a torpedo that failed to explode.{{UKTH1|p. 14}}

On 27 September, 1918, he was hospitalised for an abscess on his foot. On 25 October, 1918 he was declared fit.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

==Post-War==
In March of 1919, Bower was sent to participate in the Allied Naval Armistice Commission.

Bower was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1919.  On 12 August, he was hospitalised for four days with a neck complaint and the on 25 August he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Arrogant|f=t}}, and for duty with submarines.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

In late 1921/early 1922, Bower assisted the Naval Section to the British Empire Delegation at Washington and was thanked for his work by Chatfield.

A cascading series of missteps frayed at his career in the 1920s.  In 1923, he was blamed for losing confidential books in {{UK-K2}} by failing to turn them in for re-issue to his successor in command.  In 1926, Bower failed to remit in a timely manner cash accounts for {{UK-Ambrose}} for the months of March through May.  A severe caution to him resulted and he was reminded to abide more closely to regulations.  On 20 April, 1927, a gun accident due to poor maintenance aboard the {{UK-Crocus|f=t}} resulted in further reprimands.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

It seems that there was some other, ultimate mistake whose particulars are as yet undiscovered, for an official letter stamped N.L. 2517/30 in his Service Record dated 6 August, 1930 states that "It has been decided that Commander John G. Bower, D.S.O., R.N., H.M.S. 'Cambrian' is to be relieved in his appointment and placed on half pay.  He will not be employed again."  A Board Minute for 7 October contains the item "2757. Commander J. G. Bower, R.N.  Approved to place on Half-Pay and not to employ again."<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

Bower was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 7 February, 1931.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

A step in rank upon reaching the age of forty-five years was not granted him.  Though Bower offered his services in 1938, in 1939 it was noted that he was "NOT to be employed on mobilisation."  John G. Bower died in October of 1940.<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+John+Graham+Bower Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Graham_Bower}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harrington Douty Edwards|Harrington D. Edwards]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. A 13 (1905)|Captain of H.M.S. ''A 13'']]'''<br>1 Mar, 1910<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>{{NLApr10|p. 344}} &ndash; 19 Sep, 1910<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cornelius Octavius Regnart|Cornelius O. Regnart]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. C 34 (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''C 34'']]'''<br>1 Mar, 1910{{NLApr11|p. 344}} &ndash; 25 Nov, 1913<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Fenwick Hutchings|John F. Hutchings]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Cecil Benfield Harbottle|Thomas C. B. Harbottle]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. C 6 (1906)|Captain of H.M.S. ''C 6'']]'''<br>1 Jul, 1915<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 9 Feb, 1916<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Ivor Pulleyne|Richard I. Pulleyne]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. E 42 (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''E 42'']]'''<br>9 Feb, 1916<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 12 Jun, 1917<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Henry Allen|Charles H. Allen]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Robert Auber Codrington|John R. A. Codrington]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. K 12 (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''K 12'']]'''<br>12 Jun, 1917<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 25 Nov, 1918<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Godfrey Herbert|Godfrey Herbert]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ralph Collins|Ralph Collins]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Arrogant (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Arrogant'']]'''<br>25 Aug, 1919<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>{{NLDec19|p. 728}} &ndash; 1 May, 1920<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Guy D'Oyly-Hughes|Guy D'Oyly-Hughes]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Gilbert Hilton Kellett|Gilbert H. Kellett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Pandora (1902)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Pandora'']]'''<br>25 Feb, 1922<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; Nov, 1922<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Thomas Alexander Bunbury|Charles T. A. Bunbury]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harry Tylden Mosse|Harry T. Mosse]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cyclops (1905)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cyclops'']]'''<br>Nov, 1922<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 745}} &ndash; 15 Apr, 1924<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Buller Glencross|John B. Glencross]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Robert Sladen Watkins|Geoffrey R. S. Watkins]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ambrose (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ambrose'']]'''<br>15 Jun, 1924<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 215}} &ndash; 10 Nov, 1926<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Allan Poland|Allan Poland]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Cecil Benfield Harbottle|Thomas C. B. Harbottle]]'''|'''[[Fourth Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Commander (S), Fourth Submarine Flotilla]]'''<br>15 Jun, 1924<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>{{NLJul24|p. 215}} &ndash; 10 Nov, 1926<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Gordon Brodie|Charles G. Brodie]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain (S), Fourth Submarine Flotilla'''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Walter Cecil Tancred|Walter C. Tancred]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Crocus (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Crocus'']]'''<br>1 Feb, 1927{{NLJul27|p. 228}}<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; Dec, 1927<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Basil Owen Bell-Salter|Basil O. Bell-Salter]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Martin Welby|Richard M. Welby]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Curlew (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Curlew'']]'''<br>Jul, 1929<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.  Month may be read incorrectly.</ref> &ndash; Nov, 1929<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Francis Pridham|Arthur F. Pridham]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Francis Pridham|Arthur F. Pridham]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Calliope (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Calliope'']]'''<br>20 Nov, 1929<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 24 Jan, 1930<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harry Bingham Jermain|Harry B. Jermain]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harry Bingham Jermain|Harry B. Jermain]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Dartmouth (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Dartmouth'']]'''<br>24 Jan, 1930<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 30 Apr, 1930<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Salisbury Hamilton Simpson|Salisbury H. Simpson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cambrian (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cambrian'']]'''<br>11 Jun, 1930<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref> &ndash; 14 Aug, 1930<ref>Bower Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/50/99.|D7604511}} f. 222.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Brooks|Arthur W. Brooks]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bower, John}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1886|1940}}
{{CatSubmariner|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|September, 1900}}
{{CatRN}}