Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Downes, Notts & Derby Regiment, late K.R.R.C. with whom he was wounded at the battle of Talana Hill in October 1899

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98, naming erased; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Talana (1180 Pte. T. Downes, K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7058 Q.M. Sjt. T. Downes, N. & D.R.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £350-400

Thomas Downes was born in the Parish of Woodhouse, near Sheffield, and enlisted at Derby on 6 July 1891. Posted to the Derbyshire Regiment, he served with the 2nd Battalion in India, including service on the Punjab Frontier and in the Tirah Expedition in 1897-98. Struck off the Army Reserve in April 1899 for being absent, Downes had in fact already re-enlisted in October of the previous year, this time into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Posted to the 3rd Battalion in January 1899, he was shortly afterwards posted to the 1st Battalion stationed at Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. In September 1899 the battalion had marched to Ladysmith and, on 20 October 1899, they took part in the battle of Talana Hill when Downes, now a Lance-Corporal, was amongst the wounded. Invalided to England, Downes was eventually transferred to the Depot of the Derbyshire Regiment and by September 1902 had been promoted to Sergeant. He was advanced to Colour-Sergeant in April 1907, and to Quartermaster Sergeant in August 1914. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in January 1917 and mentioned for valuable services rendered in connection with the war by the Secretary of State for War in August 1919. He was discharged on 11 November 1919. Sold with comprehensive research.