Donald McCowen explained
| Donald McCowen |
| Birth Date: | 26 February 1908 |
| Birth Place: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Death Place: | Bermuda |
| Nationality: | British |
| Other Names: | Ritchie |
| Occupation: | Olympian, sailor, rower |
| Known For: | British Rowing Team at the 1932 Olympics |
| Relatives: | Mikey Bahen (great grandson)| Embed: | yes | | Embed Title: | Military Service | | Serviceyears: | 1939-45 | | Commands: | HM Motor Torpedo Boat 693 (1943-44)
53rd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla (1944)
HMS Beehive (1945) | | Battles: | Second World War
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Donald Henry Ewan McCowen DSO, DSC (26 February 1908 – 5 September 1998) was a British rower who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
McCowen was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was educated at Cheltenham College and Pembroke College, Cambridge. In 1932 he was a member of the winning Cambridge boat in the Boat Race. The 1932 crew won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta rowing as Leander Club. They were subsequently chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where they came fourth in the eights.[1]
During World War II McCowen joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and served in the coastal forces[2] and on motor torpedo boats.[3] He was awarded the DSO and DSC for actions in 1944,[4] [5] [6] and received the surrender of the first surface craft (2 E-boats) from Rear Admiral Karl Bruning on 13 May 1945.[7] [8]
After the war in 1947 McCowen continued his connections with the sea and purchased the ocean sailing yacht Gemini.[9] [10] [11] He also played golf.[12]
McCowen lived at Bighton Manor, Alresford, Hampshire, and died in Bermuda at the age of 90.
See also
Notes and References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042626/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mc/donald-mccowen-1.html Sports Reference Olympic Sports – Donald McCowen
- http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_CoastalForces.html RN Coastal forces
- http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_MTBs.html RN MTBs
- http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNVR_officersM2.html Unit Histories
- http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showpost.php?s=7da4f3ab35dcd129e2cc90401375e102&p=25443&postcount=19 World Naval Ships forum post
- https://sailing.barcelona/blog/entries/dhe-mccowen Lt. Cdr. Donald Henry Ewan ("Richie") McCowen DSO, DSC, RNVR
- http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205159905 Imperial War Museum
- https://sailing.barcelona/blog/entries/dhe-mccowen Lt. Cdr. Donald Henry Ewan ("Richie") McCowen DSO, DSC, RNVR
- Web site: Berthon build registers . 18 January 2010 . 8 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608050729/http://www.berthon.co.uk/about-berthon/berthon-build-registers.html . dead .
- http://gauntlets.zerofive.co.uk/boats/Gemini/ Gauntlets
- https://sailing.barcelona Gemini
- http://www.ocgs.org.uk/pages/hewittresults/1960_1969.pdf Halford Hewitt Cup 1960 – 1969
