Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Petty Officer G. Downard, Royal Navy

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Crimea 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (George Downard, H.M.S. Valorous) contemporary engraved naming; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, unnamed as issued, suspension claw neatly re-fixed; Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Py. Offr. 1. Cl. H.M.S. Beacon. 73-74) contact marks but generally nearly very fine (4) £400-500

Ex. Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection.

George Downard was born in Woolwich, Kent on 25 October 1835. Joined the service as Boy 2nd Class on 15 April 1850 aboard H.M.S. Impregnable, and subsequently drafted to H.M.S. Valorous in July 1852 until she was ‘paid off’ in August 1856, wherein he earned the campaign medals for the Baltic and Crimea. Whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Slaney (1857-59) he took part in the early actions of the Second China War. Downard was advanced to Leading Seaman on 1 April 1861 whilst aboard Colossus (1860-61) and subsequently aboard Phaeton (1861-65) he attained Petty Officer status as 2nd Captain of the After Guard in December 1862. He was drafted to H.M.S. Beacon as P.O. lst Class on 18 July 1873 and not only discharged from her, but also the service, on 31 January 1874, with less than 18 years adult service. Downard was deprived of good conduct badges on five different occasions between 1858 and 1870, thus no L.S. & G.C. medal.