| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Anzac Area (Gallipoli), Lone Pine Area, Lone Pine |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM15628.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Military Medal : Sergeant G R Downer, 1 Battalion, AIF
Description
Military Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
Awarded to 243 Sergeant G R Downer, 1 Battalion, AIF. Garnet Ronald Downer was born in Glebe, New South Wales in 1885. He was a bush worker and Militia soldier serving with the 29th Infantry Regiment (the Australian Rifles) before enlisting in the AIF in August 1914. Private Downer embarked on HMAT Afric on 18 October 1914 with 1 Battalion. He served on Gallipoli and had been promoted to sergeant when he was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for his actions at Lone Pine in August 1915. The recommendation for the MM reads, 'For outstanding courage and determination during the operations at Lone Pine, when he personally led a counter attack in company with Sergeant Gelding and succeeded in holding the trench by means of bombs.' Sergeant Downer survived the Gallipoli campaign and moved with 1 Battalion to the Western Front, where he was killed during a raid on the German trenches on 29 June 1916 near Fromelles, France.