Philip Bowden-Smith

Philip Bowden-Smith
Birth name	Philip Ernest Bowden-Smith
Nickname(s)	Bogey
Born	27 March 1891
Died	28 April 1964 Wokingham
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1910–1946
Rank	Brigadier
Unit	16th/5th Lancers
Commands held	125th Infantry Brigade 10th Armoured Brigade 10th Tank Brigade
Battles/wars	Western Front South-East Asia
Awards	CBE
Other work	1924 Summer Olympics 1936 Summer Olympics

Brigadier Philip Ernest 'Bogey' Bowden-Smith CBE (27 March 1891 – 28 April 1964), was a cavalry officer and later armoured commander of the British Army who served in the First World War and the Second World War. Described as 'one of the finest horsemen of his generation' he also represented Great Britain at the 1924 Olympic Games.

Philip Ernest Bowden-Smith was born on 27 March 1891, the son of Ernest Bowden-Smith, and was educated at Rugby School. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 19th Hussars on 3 September 1910 (promoted to Lieutenant 7 October 1911). The 19th Hussars' role on the mobilisation of the British Expeditionary Force was to provide squadrons to 4th, 5th and 6th Divisions. THis is what happened o the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. Because Bowden-Smith's war service was recorded as starting on 9 September, he must have been with C Squadron, which landed with 6th Division at St Nazaire on that day.

Divisional cavalry squadrons were very active in the early days of the war, when manoeuvre was still possible. Once trench warfare set in, their role disappeared. The squadrons of 19th Hussars reformed in April 1915 and joined the 1st Cavalry Division, but mounted action was rare, and if the cavalry did see action it was usually in the dismounted role. Bowden-Smith was wounded once during the war. At various times he found himself attached to the Signal Service and as a temporary instructor at the Cavalry School at Netheravon. He ended the war in the rank of Captain.

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