John Thornton Down
Ensign, 57th Regiment. (Middlesex Regiment). (up Duke of Cambridge's Own)
- Register No.
- 344 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Ensign all Ensigns →
- Unit
- 57th Regiment. (Middlesex Regiment). (up Duke of Cambridge's Own) (register: 57th Regiment of Foot) all 57th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 2 October 1863 on this day → all of 1863 →
- Conflict / campaign
- New Zealand Wars
- London Gazette
- 22nd September, 1864 on this day → all of 1864 →
- Born
- 2nd March 1842 at Fulham, London
- Died
- 28th April 1866 at Otahuhu, New Zealand
- Memorial / grave
- 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment brass tablet in St Paul's Cathedral
Digest of citation
On 2nd October 1863 at Pontoko, New Zealand, Ensign Down and a drummer * volunteered to rescue a wounded comrade from the rebel natives. They succeeded in bringing in this wounded man who was lying about 50 yards from the bush, although the enemy kept up a very heavy fire at short range and from fallen logs close at hand
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DOWN, John Thornton. (reg No. 344).
Ensign 57th Regiment. (Middlesex Regiment). (up Duke of Cambridge's Own).
London Gazetted on 22nd September, 1864.
Born on 2nd March 1842 at Fulham, London.
Died on 28th April 1866 at Otahuhu, New Zealand.
Memorial at 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment brass tablet in St Paul's Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 2nd October 1863 at Pontoko, New Zealand, Ensign Down and a drummer * volunteered to rescue a wounded comrade from the rebel natives. They succeeded in bringing in this wounded man who was lying about 50 yards from the bush, although the enemy kept up a very heavy fire at short range and from fallen logs close at hand.
* D.Stagpoole. (reg No. 1176).
* D.Stagpoole. (reg No. 1176).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment brass tablet in St Paul's Cathedral
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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