Difference between revisions of "Richard Thornton Down"

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[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Richard Thornton Down''', C.V.O., D.S.O., Royal Navy (11 December, 1882 – 22 August, 1944) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].  He served in the South African War and in China in 1900.  He served as gunnery officer of the dreadnought battleship [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|H.M.S. ''Neptune'']] at the [[Battle of Jutland]].  From 1922 to 1926 he served as the Naval Attaché to Italy, before retiring in 1928.  Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to duty, commanding a naval depôt in Scotland, before dying on active service in 1944.
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[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''Richard Thornton Down''', C.V.O., D.S.O., Royal Navy (11 December, 1882 – 22 August, 1944) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].   
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
Promoted to {{LieutRN}} on 15 September, 1903.{{NLMar13|p. 22}}
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Down served in the South African War and in China in 1900.
  
On 27 June, 1914 Down was appointed first and gunnery {{LCommRN}} of {{UK-Neptune|f=p}}, in which he served at the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May, 1916.
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He was promoted to {{LieutRN}} on 15 September, 1903.{{NLMar13|p. 22}}
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On 27 June, 1914 Down was appointed first and gunnery {{LCommRN}} of {{UK-Neptune|f=p}}, in which he served at the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May, 1916.  In mid-1917, he traveled to Washington, D.C., and learned much of American methods of fire control, reporting back to England.
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From 1922 to 1926 he served as the Naval Attaché to Italy, before retiring in 1928.  Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to duty, commanding a naval depôt in Scotland, before dying on active service in 1944.
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*"Fallen Officers" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 31 August, 1944.  Issue '''49949''', col D, pg. 7.
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* "Fallen Officers" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 31 August, 1944.  Issue '''49949''', col D, pg. 7.
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* "Report of Proceedings by Commander Richard T. Down, R.N. during visit to Washington -- 6th May to 27th June" dated 5 July 1917 at {{TNA|ADM 137/1621.|}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  

Revision as of 18:14, 23 July 2015

Captain Richard Thornton Down, C.V.O., D.S.O., Royal Navy (11 December, 1882 – 22 August, 1944) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Down served in the South African War and in China in 1900.

He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 September, 1903.[1]

On 27 June, 1914 Down was appointed first and gunnery Lieutenant-Commander of H.M.S. Neptune, in which he served at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May, 1916. In mid-1917, he traveled to Washington, D.C., and learned much of American methods of fire control, reporting back to England.

From 1922 to 1926 he served as the Naval Attaché to Italy, before retiring in 1928. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to duty, commanding a naval depôt in Scotland, before dying on active service in 1944.

Bibliography

  • "Fallen Officers" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 31 August, 1944. Issue 49949, col D, pg. 7.
  • "Report of Proceedings by Commander Richard T. Down, R.N. during visit to Washington -- 6th May to 27th June" dated 5 July 1917 at The National Archives. ADM 137/1621.

Service Record

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Austen G. Lilley
Captain of H.M.S. Forester
6 Mar, 1918[2]
Succeeded by
?

 

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 22.
  2. The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 795.

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