State: South Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 20/08/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
4th South Australian (Imperial Bushmen's) Contingent –
16 Corporal [promoted Sergeant] John Henry DOWNER
Obverse with recipient's initials: "J.H.D.".
Reverse: "Presented to Sergeant Downer for his kindness to invalids on the S.S. Britannic by his comrades of the 4th I.B.C.".
Sent to Sergeant Downer while in Melbourne.
"There were 90 cases of measles on the Britannic on her return from South Africa with the Imperial Bushmen. Sergeant J.H. Downer, son of [Senator] Sir John Downer, proved himself invaluable as a nurse and medical adviser".
Sergeant Downer later served as a Lieutenant with the Eighth South Australian Contingent.
Hobart Mercury, 21/08/1901
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North Western Advocate, 21st August 1901
PRESENTATION TO A SERGEANT
Melbourne, Tuesday.
Sergeant DOWNER, son of Senator Downer, and who is at present in Melbourne, received from the members of the Imperial Bushmen's contingent a gold medal of beautiful workmanship, bearing the following inscription: “Presented to Sergeant Downer for his kindness to invalids on s.s. Britannic by his comrades of the fourth I.B.C.”
Melbourne Age, 21st August 1901
The Members of the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent have sent to Sergeant J.H. DOWNER, who is at present in Melbourne, a gold medal of beautiful workmanship, on which is the following inscription: — "Presented to Sergeant Downer for his kindness to invalids on S.S. Britannic, by his comrades of the 4th I.B.C. " On the reverse of the medal are the recipient's initials, "J.H.D.", in a laurel wreath. Sergeant DOWNER, not knowing what particular member of the I.B.C. to address on the subject, wishes to tender through "The Age" his profound thanks to his old comrades for the kindness they have shown him.
Adelaide Chronicle, 24th August 1901
MILITARY.
As will be remembered, there were 90 cases of measles on the Britannic on her return from South Africa with the Imperial Bushmen. Sergeant J.H. DOWNER, son of Sir John Downer, proved himself invaluable as a nurse and medical adviser, and on Tuesday in Melbourne he received a gold medal of beautiful workmanship, bearing on one side the following inscription: — “Presented to Sergeant Downer for his kindness to invalids on the S.S. Britannic by his comrades of the 4th I.B.C.”, and on the other side his initials. Sergeant DOWNER, who is in Melbourne, not knowing what member to address, wishes to tender his profound thanks to his comrades for their kindness.
Adelaide Observer, 1st March 1902
The Eighth Contingent.
The Officers.
Lieut. John Henry DOWNER is a son of Senator Sir John Downer, and is 30 years of age. He was educated at St. Peter's College, and subsequently entered the Adelaide and Cambridge Universities. Excessive devotion to study at the latter induced an illness which necessitated his return home. Mr DOWNER joined the fourth (Imperial Bushmen) contingent under Col. Rowell, C.B., as a lance-corporal, and after some months' service was invalided home, but went to the front again, and once more returned to South Australia on the Britannic when the I.B.C. had completed its service. He had been promoted to the rank of sergeant. His men presented him with a gold medal on arrival in Adelaide as a token of gratitude for the kindness he had shown to them and to the invalids on the voyage.
