Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.C.M. awarded to Able Seaman R. O. Downie, R.N.V.R., Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (TZ-6581 A.Sea. R. O. Downie, Hawke Bn: R.N.V.R.) good very fine £1000-1200

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918, citation 21 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, while in charge of a Lewis Gun section during an enemy attack. Seeing a good position for his gun in advance of the line, he led his section forward to it under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, occupied the post, and held it, causing the enemy many casualties.’

Reginald Ogilvie Downie was born at Wallsend-on-Tyne, on 16 January 1916, and joined the R.N.V.R. on 7 August 1915. In December he was drafted from the 7th Battalion to the Hawke Battalion, serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, joining the battalion at Imbros in February 1916. Towards the end of May 1916 he moved with the Hawke Battalion to France, where he suffered from scabies, trench foot and ‘wounded shell shock’, occasioning several spells in hospital. On 15 March 1918, he was admitted to hospital at Etretat suffering from the effects of a Gas Shell, and was soon invalided to England and transferred to Southwark Military Hospital at Dulwich. Sold with full research.