Son of Robert (7/920) and Elizabeth Bowie. His father died during WW1.

Husband of Ann King they married in 1944

He began work at 15. In her book, "Mick Bowie, the Hermitage years", Nan Bowie has recorded the farming experience gained by Mick in various parts of Canterbury. Then he worked his way to the UK, but briefly and returned working on a farm on Motutapu Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, he also worked in the Timaru area again. He went deerstalking in the Rakaia, and in 1929 he participated in the transport of materials to build the second Malte Brun hut, and all the dogs-body jobs around the Hermitage as well.

In 1930, Mick was started his guiding career, under the Chief Guide Vic Williams. He was an apt pupil, and became a celebrated guide both for climbing and ski-mountaineering. Early in 1938, Mick himself became Chief Guide, the last of the legendary Chief Guides of the Golden Age of guided climbing in New Zealand. In 1938, Mick went to China on a long mountaineering expedition.

In 1939 he put his age back four years and left New Zealand with the Second Echelon. He survived the campaigns in Greece and Crete, but was badly wounded while serving in North Africa and was invalided home to Burwood Hospital, Christchurch. Spending almost a year in hospital.

In March, 1944, he and Ann King were married and went to live in the Chief Guide's house at Mount Cook.

"Mick Bowie showed great leadership qualities througout his guiding career, probably most memorable to those who took part in the many search and rescue operations which he controlled. Once Mick was on the scene things fell into place, and action commenced

Lloyd Wilson wrote saying that climbing oldies thought that Mick should be nominated for a "gong" and the suggestion was enthusiastically received and promoted. We extolled his impeccable climbing record of 40 years without an untoward accident, and his great contribution to search and resuce over that time. We had the backing of two Members of Parliament, and looked forward to a high honour being bestowed on Mick - he was awarded a British Empire Medal." (from the New Zealand Alpine Journal, 1983)

Reduced his age by 4 years to enlist AWMM