Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War civil B.E.M. awarded to Mr Herbert C. Downs, Merchant Navy

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Herbert C. Downs) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine £140-180

B.E.M. London Gazette 9 January 1946.

An extract from the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, of 11 January 1946, lists Grimsby Fishermen honoured for their wartime services, states: ‘A coloured man, a native of Barbados, Mr H. C. Downs, aged 61, of 84 Nelson-street, Grimsby, has given continuous service during the war as trimmer, deck-hand or third hand. He has been continuously employed by Sir Thomas Robinson and Son, Ltd. for 25 years and sailed for them during the whole of the 1914-18 war. He was in the Iranian and the Median when they were attacked and damaged by enemy aircraft.’