Distinguished Conduct Medal GV (1402109 SJT. C. DOWNS. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (20070 BMBR. C.DOWNS. R.G.A.); British War Medal (20070 SJT. C.DOWNS. R.A.); Victory Medal (20070 SJT. C.DOWNS. R.A.); General Service Medal clasp Iraq (20070 SJT. C. DOWNS. R.A.); Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal GV (1402109 SJT. C.DOWNS. D.C.M. R.G.A.)
20070/1402109 Sgt. Claude Downs was a Greengrocer born in Hammersmith, London on 25 February 1885. He attested for service on 15 June 1904 and served with 5th Medium Battery, R.G.A. in WWI. He was posted to France on 25 March 1915 and was Wounded in Action on 30 August 1920 in the Iraq campaign. He was awarded a scarce DCM for Mesopotamia on 28.12.1921, serving with I.W.T. - Inland Water Transport (R.E.) He was awarded a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1922 and the General Service Medal with Iraq clasp on 29 March 1923.
His DCM citation in the London Gazette of 28 September 1921 reads as follows:
"1402109 (frmly 20070) Sjt. C. Downs, R.G.A., attd. I.W.T., R.E. (Shepherd's Bush).
For conspicuous gallantry on the 28th August 1920. Whilst the Defence Vessel "Grayfly" was proceeding towards Samawah under heavy close-range fire from the enemy, her awning caught fire and the ship was in danger of being burnt. Sjt. Downs immediately proceeded to draw water from the river, and succeeded in putting the fire out. His prompt action undoubtedly saved the vessel."
The Grayfly - The present gunboat flotilla, consisting of the four shallow- draught monitors Firefly, Greenfly, Grayfly, and Sedgefly, was handed over to this department by the Royal Navy on March 2nd, 1918. Their duties as Defence vessels are to patrol the rivers of Mesopotamia, usually two of them being stationed on the Tigris and two on the Euphrates.
All four vessels are of practically the same dimensions and capacity, their length being 126 feet, breadth, 18 feet, depth, 6 feet, with a maximum draft of 3 feet and speed of 10 knots. They carried an armament of one 4-inch B.L. Mark VIII
gun, one 12-pounder 12 cwt. Mark VI gun, one three-pounder Vickers' (anti-aircraft) gun, four -303 Maxims, besides the usual complement of rifles and pistols. The 4-inch guns were removed in August, 1918, for the purpose of arming vessels on the Caspian. They are also fitted with searchlights and wireless installations, the latter having a radius of between 200 and 250 miles.
Each vessel has a complement of :
2 navigating officers,
1 engine-room officer, 8 gunner ratings,
1 engine-room mechanic,
17 deck and engine-room ratings (Indians)
Downs passed away in Hammersmith on 26 November 1938.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with research. See C1001206 for father's medals.
