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==
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On 27 June, 1914 Down was appointed first and gunnery {{LCommRN}} of the [[dreadnought]] [[battleship]] [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|H.M.S. ''Neptune'']], in which he served at the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May, 1916.
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Down was born in Westbourne, the son of {{CaptRN}} [[William Thornton Down]].<ref>Down Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>
  
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==Footnotes==
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Down served in the South African War and in China in 1900. 
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{{reflist}}
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He was promoted to {{LieutRN}} on 15 September, 1903.{{NLMar13|p. 22}}  In March 1906, he qualified as a gunnery lieutenant.<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>
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Down was promoted to {{LCommRN}} on 15 September, 1911.<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>
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On 27 June, 1914 Down was appointed first and gunnery {{LCommRN}} of {{UK-1Neptune|f=p}}, in which he served at the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May, 1916 when she operated as part of the {{UK-BS|1}}.  Promoted to {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1916, Down remained in the battleship until 21 February, 1917.  A brief appointment in command of a ship which may be {{UK-Wallaroo}} ran from 17 to 24 March 1917 when he was appointed to the {{UK-Carnarvon|f=t}}.<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>
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In early May 1917, while in an appointment in {{UK-Carnarvon}} though not presently on board, he was selected to travel to Washington, D.C. as a "British Naval Technical Expert" to promote informational exchange between America and Britain.  He compiled his experiences in [[Down Report|a pair of reports]] in which he related the information he'd offered the Americans and the lessons he'd taken from them.<ref>Down Report.  {{TNA|ADM 137/1621.|}} pp 1-2.</ref>
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From 1922 to 1926 he served as the Naval Attaché to Italy, before being placed on the Retired List at the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 14 December, 1928.<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>
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==World War II==
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Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to duty, commanding a naval depôt in Scotland.
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He suffered fractured ribs in August 1942 before reverting the Retired List on 4 July, 1944 and dying a little over a month later.<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}} f. 317.</ref>
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*"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}}
  
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==Service Record==
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==See Also==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
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*The National Archives.  [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7919371&queryType=1&resultcount=1 ADM 196/47.]
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* [[H.M.S. Neptune at the Battle of Jutland]]
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
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[[Category:1882 births|Down]]
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
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[[Category:1944 deaths|Down]]
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{{TabNaval}}
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[[Category:Personalities|Down]]
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Reginald Montagu Roberts West|Reginald M. R. West]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Wallaroo (1890)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Wallaroo'']]'''<br>17 Mar, 1917<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref> &ndash; 24 Mar, 1917<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
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[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1897|Down]]
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Austen Gerald Lilley|Austen G. Lilley]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Forester (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Forester'']]'''<br>6 Mar, 1918{{NLSep19|p. 795}} &ndash; 15 Dec, 1919|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
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[[Category:Royal Navy Gunnery Officers|Down]]
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Neston William Diggle|Neston W. Diggle]]'''<br><small>as '''Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Rome'''</small>|'''[[Naval Attaché (Royal Navy)|Naval Attaché for Italy, Greece, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria]]'''<br>12 Jun, 1922 &ndash; Feb, 1926|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Hugh Loraine Bevan|Richard H. L. Bevan]]'''<br><small>as '''Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Rome'''</small>}}
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[[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Forester (1911)|Down]]
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Tim Melvin Barrett|Tim M. Barrett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Pegasus (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Pegasus'']]'''<br>11 May, 1927<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>{{NLJul27|p. 258}} &ndash; 12 Jun, 1928<ref>Down Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/112.|}}  f. 317.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Reginald Becher Caldwell Hutchinson|Reginald B. C. Hutchinson]]'''}}
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[[Category:Royal Navy Naval Attachés|Down]]
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{{TabEnd}}
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[[Category:Royal Navy Captains|Down]]
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</div name=fredbot:appts> 
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==Footnotes==
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{{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Down, Richard}}
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{{CatPerson|UK|1882|1944}}
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{{CatBritannia|January, 1897}}
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{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
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{{CatCapt|UK}}
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{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 23:06, 18 May 2024

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 was born in Westbourne, the son of Captain William Thornton Down.[1]

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

He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 September, 1903.[2] In March 1906, he qualified as a gunnery lieutenant.[3]

Down was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 September, 1911.[4]

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 when she operated as part of the First Battle Squadron. Promoted to Commander on 30 June, 1916, Down remained in the battleship until 21 February, 1917. A brief appointment in command of a ship which may be Wallaroo ran from 17 to 24 March 1917 when he was appointed to the armoured cruiser Carnarvon.[5]

In early May 1917, while in an appointment in Carnarvon though not presently on board, he was selected to travel to Washington, D.C. as a "British Naval Technical Expert" to promote informational exchange between America and Britain. He compiled his experiences in a pair of reports in which he related the information he'd offered the Americans and the lessons he'd taken from them.[6]

From 1922 to 1926 he served as the Naval Attaché to Italy, before being placed on the Retired List at the rank of Captain on 14 December, 1928.[7]

World War II

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to duty, commanding a naval depôt in Scotland.

He suffered fractured ribs in August 1942 before reverting the Retired List on 4 July, 1944 and dying a little over a month later.[8]

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.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Reginald M. R. West 		Captain of H.M.S. Wallaroo
17 Mar, 1917[9] – 24 Mar, 1917[10] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Austen G. Lilley 		Captain of H.M.S. Forester
6 Mar, 1918[11] – 15 Dec, 1919 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Neston W. Diggle
as Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Rome 		Naval Attaché for Italy, Greece, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria
12 Jun, 1922 – Feb, 1926 		Succeeded by
Richard H. L. Bevan
as Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Rome
Preceded by
Tim M. Barrett 		Captain of H.M.S. Pegasus
11 May, 1927[12][13] – 12 Jun, 1928[14] 		Succeeded by
Reginald B. C. Hutchinson

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  2. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 22.
  3. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  4. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  5. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  6. ↑ Down Report. The National Archives. ADM 137/1621. pp 1-2.
  7. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  8. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  9. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  10. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 795.
  12. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.
  13. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 258.
  14. ↑ Down Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/112. f. 317.

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