Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. W. Downs, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941, and died on 20 August 1945, just 10 days after liberation, having endured nearly four years of captivity at the hands of the Japanese

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 January 1947.

James Westby Downs was born on 28 October 1913, the son of John and Margaret Downs, of 78 Grafton Road, Keighley, Yorkshire. He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War, and was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941. Spending the rest of the War in Japanese captivity, he was liberated on 10 August 1945, and died just 10 days later, on 20 August 1945, just 5 days after VJ Day and the end of the War, and is buried at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan. For his services during the Second World War he was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches.

Sold together with the recipient’s original Mentioned in Despatches Certificate; and copied research.