A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals to the Royal Navy

Five: Able Seaman A. J. Down, H.M.S. Thrush, Royal Navy, later Corporal, Royal Field Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (A. J. Down Ord., H.M.S. Thrush.) small impressed naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Aro 1901-1902 (198143 A.B. A. Down. H.M.S. Thrush.) small impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (75499 Dvr. A. J. Down. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (75499 Cpl. A. J. Down. R.A.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine, scarce (5) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Collection

Approximately 65 no clasp Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to H.M.S. Thrush.

Only 46 clasps for ‘Aro 1901-1902’ issued to the Royal Navy, all to the screw-gunboat H.M.S. Thrush.

Arthur Joseph Down was born in Deptford, Kent, on 23 August 1881 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 4 February 1898. He served in H.M.S. Thrush during the Boer War and in the Aro operations, 15 November 1901 to 23 March 1902, and was advanced Able Seaman on 26 May 1901. He was shore pensioned on 22 August 1911.

Down subsequently attested for the Royal Field Artillery, and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 July 1915. He was transferred Class ‘Z Reserve on 5 March 1919.

Sold with copied service record, medal roll extracts, and copied Medal Index Card.