John Thornton Down was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 21 years old, and a Ensign in the 57th Regiment (later The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)), British Army during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 2 October 1863 at Poutoko , New Zealand, Ensign Down and a drummer (Dudley Stagpoole) 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.

He was killed in action, Otahuhu, New Zealand, on 28 April 1866.

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.