George Dare Dowell

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel), Royal Marine Artillery

VC
Register No.
342 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
Unit
Royal Marine Artillery all Royal Marine Artillery VCs →
Date of action
13 July 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
Conflict / campaign
Crimean War
London Gazette
24th February, 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
Born
15th February, 1831 at Chichester, Sussex
Died
3rd August 1910 at Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
Memorial / grave
grave in Purewa Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand. Tribute also in the Royal Marine Museum, Southsea
Medal held by
the Royal Marine museum, Eastney Barracks,

Digest of citation

On 13th July 1855 at the Fort of Viborg, in the Gulf of Finland, when an explosion occurred in one of the cutters of HMS Arrogant, Lieutenant Dowell, who was on-board HMS Ruby, took three volunteers and went, under very heavy fire to the assistance of the cutter. He took up three of the crew, and having rescued the rest and also the Captain of the Mast *, he then towed the stricken boat out of the enemy gun range

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

DOWELL, George Dare. (reg No. 342).

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel). Royal Marine Artillery.

London Gazetted on 24th February, 1857.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Marine museum, Eastney Barracks, Southsea, Hants.

Born on 15th February, 1831 at Chichester, Sussex.

Died on 3rd August 1910 at Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.

Memorial at grave in Purewa Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand. Tribute also in the Royal Marine Museum, Southsea.

Digest of Citation reads: On 13th July 1855 at the Fort of Viborg, in the Gulf of Finland, when an explosion occurred in one of the cutters of HMS Arrogant, Lieutenant Dowell, who was on-board HMS Ruby, took three volunteers and went, under very heavy fire to the assistance of the cutter. He took up three of the crew, and having rescued the rest and also the Captain of the Mast *, he then towed the stricken boat out of the enemy gun range.

* G. Ingouville. (reg No. 615).

* G. Ingouville. (reg No. 615).

Southsea, Hants.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Purewa Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand. Tribute also in the Royal Marine Museum, Southsea

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

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