Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal awarded to Able Seaman R. T. Downer, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.109474 R. T. Downer. A.B., H.M.S. Verity.) extremely fine £240-£280

Reginald Thomas Downer was born in Gosport, Hampshire, on 1 September 1908 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in February 1924. Advanced Able Seaman in December 1927, he was loaned to the Royal New Zealand Navy in January 1939, and was posted to H.M.S. Achilles that same month. He served in her during the early stages of the Second World War, and was present at the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939 when, along with H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. Exeter, the three ships of the Royal Navy forced the scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee at Montevideo. Subsequently posted to H.M.S. Verity, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in July 1941, and was shore released in October 1948.