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Downie, Robert - VC; Supporter, awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery
Topic Started: Nov 22 2010, 09:32 PM (5,961 Views)
viewpark_tims

Robert Downie was born in 1891 to parents from County Down. He joined the army at 19 and was a regular with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers at the start of the first world war. He was awarded a Military Medal, and then a Victoria Cross (the highest honour).

He was a sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place during the Battle of the Somme, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional bravery.

On 23 October 1916 east of Lesboeufs, France, when most of the officers had become casualties, Sergeant Downie, utterly regardless of personal danger and under very heavy fire, organised the attack which had been temporarily checked. At the critical moment he rushed forward shouting "Come on the Dubs!" which had an immediate response and the line rushed forward at this call. Sergeant Downie accounted for several of the enemy and in addition captured a machine-gun, killing the team. Although wounded early in the fight, he remained with his company, giving valuable assistance while the position was being consolidated.

On his homecoming, he arrived at Glasgow Central Station to be met by hundreds of people who carried him shoulder-high to a taxi. Springburn Road was decorated with flags and bunting and lined with hundreds more people, and his achievement was widely reported in the Glasgow press.

Post-War
He lived quietly in Carleston Street, Springburn, until his death in 1968. A modest man, he often played down his bravery, saying he won the medals for having 'shot the cook'.

A Celtic fan through and through, football fans at Celtic Park regularly saw him on a Saturday as he worked as a cashier at the turnstiles. He donated his medal to Celtic, and the medal is on display at Celtic Park.
« Last Edit: Jul 31, 2010, 6:06pm by dianogah »

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viewpark_tims

I have made contact with him family through CM who tell me that his medal is not on display but are happy to try to share his story.

Two separate family members came forward.

Robert is buried in St Kentigerns.
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viewpark_tims

I`ve had a look for Roberts world war 1 record on ancestry with no luck to date, did he stay in Springburn prior to the war?
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viewpark_tims

great wee story, is his medal still at celtic park or does his family have it ? you know what like Celtic are for sticking things in cupboards
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viewpark_tims

The family have it.
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viewpark_tims

Been to St kentigern's today and the writing is badly faded on robert's headstone. Pictures to follow later. Might be a job for the commonwealth war graves commission.
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viewpark_tims

Looking forward to seeing the pics C. Would definitely think it would be worth contacting CGWC and letting them know, happy to volunteer for this.
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viewpark_tims

That would be great WS.

Spoke to Bernadette in the McGowans office and she said that the CWGC are in the cemetery quite often and in her view would be receptive to hearing about it.

I'll contact the family again through CM. I'll get the photos up now.

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viewpark_tims

Here are a couple of photos I took of the headstone.

The lettering is now quite badly faded and is difficult to make out.

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viewpark_tims

added:
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Downie%2C+Robert+-+Grave
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