Roger Keyes recalled Walter Cowan in 1940, at about seventy, to teach boat handling to commandos. Working with the rank of commander, the retired admiral then accompanied the men he had trained into action. The account includes combat in Italy and an attempt to fight an Italian tank crew with a revolver. After capture, Cowan was repatriated in 1943 without a stipulation that he stay out of combat, apparently because his age made further action seem unlikely. He returned to operations and received a bar to his Distinguished Service Order in 1944, while declining other decorations he thought should go to younger men. He finally retired again at seventy-six after being refused permission to go to the Far East. His aggressive temperament also prompts doubts about assigning him cautious duties in the Baltic.
Notable Point · 46:41-51:52
Admiral Cowan's extraordinary return to war
Recalled to train commandos at about seventy, Walter Cowan went into combat himself, returned after repatriation, and earned a further DSO award in 1944.