Early Service
In 1886, as Midshipmen, Cowan and Beatty joined HMS Alexandra, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. Cowan saw service in Benin and Nigeria in 1887. He fell sick and was invalided home after less than a year, but later rejoined the Alexandra, returning with her to Britain in 1889. He then joined HMS Volage in the Training Squadron and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1890. He was appointed to HMS Boadicea, flagship of the East India Station. In 1892 he was promoted Lieutenant and became First Lieutenant of the gunboat HMS Redbreast. However, in 1893 he was invalided home with dysentery.
In 1894 he was appointed to the light cruiser HMS Barrosa off West Africa. During this time he participated in a number of expeditions against native and Arab insurgents.
In 1898, he was appointed to the destroyer HMS Boxer in the Mediterranean, but only stayed in her for six months before being given command of the Nile gunboat HMS Sultan. He took part in the Battles of Atbara and Omdurman and then commanded the entire Nile gunboat flotilla during the Fashoda Incident. He received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for these actions.
Cowan then particiated in the Second Boer War, acting as aide-de-camp to Lord Kitchener and then to Lord Roberts.
Returning to England in 1901, he was appointed First Lieutenant of the battleship HMS Prince George. In June 1901 he was promoted Commander at the early age of thirty. He later took command of the destroyer HMS Falcon and acted as second-in-command of the Devonport destroyer flotilla under Roger Keyes, who was then developing new destroyer tactics. They became fast friends. Cowan commanded several more destroyers, acquiring a widespread reputation as a destroyer captain, and then succeeded Keyes in command of the flotilla. In 1904 he was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO). In 1905 he took command of HMS Skirmisher and he was promoted Captain in 1906. He transferred to the cruiser HMS Sapphire in 1907 and in 1908 took command of all destroyers of the Channel Fleet. In 1909 he transferred to the Reserve Fleet and in 1910 he became captain of the new light cruiser HMS Gloucester.
In 1912 he became chief of staff to John de Robeck, who was then Flag Officer Patrols.
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