The estimated sale price was between £180,000 and £220,000. The sale hammer price realised £200,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 2 February 1917 ],

Tigris Flotilla Operations, Near Kut El Amaris, Iraq, 24 - 25 April 1916,
Lieutenant Commander Charles Henry Cowley, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, with Lieutenant Humphrey Osbaldston Firman, Royal Navy.

In recognition of their conspicuous gallantry in an attempt to re-provision the force besieged in Kut-el-Amara.

The General Officer Commanding, Indian Expeditionary Force "D" reported on this attempt in the following words. "At 8pm on April 24th 1916, with a crew from the Royal Navy under Lieutenant Firman, RN, assisted by Lieutenant Commander Cowley, RNVR, the "Julnar" carrying 270 tons of supplies, left Falahiyah in an attempt to reach Kut.

Her deparure was covered by all Artillery and machine gun fire that could be brought to bear, in the hope of distracting the enemy's attention. She was, however, discovered and shelled on her passage up the river.

At 1am. on the 25th General Townshend reported that she had not arrived, and that at midnight a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, some 8 miles from Kut by river, which had suddenly ceased.

There could be but little doubt that the enterprise had failed, and the next day the Air Service reported the "Julnar" in the hands of the Turks at Magasis. The leaders of this brave attempt, Lieutenant Firman, RN. and his assistant – Lieutenant Commander Cowley, RNVR. – the latter of whom throughout the campaign in Mesopotamia performed magnificent service in command of the "Mejidieh" – have been reported by the Turks to have been killed: the remainder of the gallant crew, including five wounded, are prisoners of war.

Knowing well the chances against them, all the gallant officers and men who manned the "Julnar" for the occasion were volunteers. I trust that the services in this connection of Lieutenant Firman, RN. and Lieutenant Commander Cowley, RNVR, his assistant, both of whom were unfortunately killed, may be recognised by the posthumous grant of some suitable honour".

The mother of Charles Cowley, living in Ashar, near Basra, was presented with her son's Victoria Cross by Rear Admiral Drury Wake, Senior Naval Officer, Mesopotamia, on 25th August 1917.

Both Charles Cowley and Humphrey Firman died following their Victoria Cross action. Their burial location is not known and therefore their name is inscribed on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.