Lieutenant GeneralSir John Sharman Fowler, KCB, KCMG, DSO (29 July 1864 – 20 September 1939) was a British Army engineer officer who specialised on telegraph on signals, and who was later Commander of British Forces in China.[1]

. . . John Fowler (British Army officer) . . .

Fowler was born in Navan, County Meath, the second son of Robert Fowler and Letitia Coddington.[2][3] He was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. His elder sister Louisa married Sir Alexander Godley.[1]

Fowler was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1886.[4] He took part in the Izazai expedition in 1892, was promoted to captain on 24 September 1895, and went to Chitral in the North West Frontier of India in 1896.[4] He also took part in the Tirah Expeditionary Force in the North West Frontier of India in 1897.[4]

Fowler served in the Second Boer War as a member of the South Africa Field Force,[4] and attached to the 2nd Division Telegraph Battalion, and was mentioned in despatches (dated 8 April 1902).[5] Following the end of the war in June 1902, he received a brevet promotion to major in the South African Honours list published on 26 June 1902,[6] and returned home with his division on the SS Britannic from Cape Town to Southampton in October that year.[7] After his return, he was stationed with the 1st Division Telegraph Battalion, at Aldershot.[8]

Fowler also served in the First World War as Director of Army Signals for the British Expeditionary Force.[4] In 1921 he was appointed General Officer Commanding the Straits Settlements and the following year he was appointed Commander of British Forces in China.[9] He retired in 1925.[4]

Fowler was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Signals from 1923 to 1934.[4]

. . . John Fowler (British Army officer) . . .

. . . John Fowler (British Army officer) . . .