Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Chief Petty Officer W. T. D. Downham, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (J.73138 Boy 1, R.N.), late issues; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (J73138 A/P.O., H.M.S. Nelson) nearly extremely fine (7) £200-240

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1941 & 1 January 1943.

William Thomas Drayson Downham was born in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 17 March 1902. A Farm Boy by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 5 July 1917 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in December 1917. Posted to light cruiser Centaur in January 1918, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in 1920 and Able Seaman in February 1921 when on the Shakespeare. In the Second World War he was a Chief Petty Officer aboard the destroyer Dainty when she was bombed and sunk by German dive-bombers off Tobruk, on 24 February 1941. In the inquiry into the loss of the ship, Downham, who was at the ship’s wheel in the wheel house, reported:

‘I was able to steer the ship for approximately two minutes when the steering gear failed and I reported to the bridge. The order was given “Stop engines; abandon wheel house”. The telegraph appeared to be in action and I received a reply from the Engine Room by gong. The First Lieutenant gave the order “Flood the foremost magazine”. This was carried out by myself and two Able Seamen - Able Seaman Taft and Able Seaman Burns. The next order from the Captain was “Everybody to the fo’csle; stand-by to abandon ship”. I assisted in tying the Hasty alongside and about 60 men jumped inboard’. For his services during the action, he was mentioned in despatches. He was further mentioned in despatches in 1943, for services as C.P.O. aboard the destroyer Wells.

Sold with copied service papers; report on the loss of the Dainty; gazette extracts; and medal roll. This latter shows Downham was issued with a duplicate pair of British War and Victory Medals in 1952.