Sgt Robert Downey VC, 2nd Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers

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Born in Glasgow to parents from County Down, Sgt Robert Downey was awarded the Victoria Cross for his deeds in France in October 1916, the award being gazetted on 25th November 1916.

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.

His homecoming at Glasgow Central Station was greeted by hundreds of people who carried him shoulder-high to a taxi.

Springburn Road, where he lived in the North of Glasgow was decorated with flags and bunting and lined with hundreds more people, and his achievement was widely reported in the Glasgow press.

He was sometimes seen at Celtic Park, working the turnstyles as a cashier

A modest man, he often played down his bravery, saying he won the medals for having 'shot the cook', & lived quietly in Carleston Street, Springburn, until his death on 18th April 1968, at the age of 74.

Downie is buried at St. Kentigern's Cemetery, Glasgow.

This is the original copy of the photograph of Downey which was used by "I Was There" magazine to illustrate a short "Then & Now" feature on him on page 785 of issue 230.n

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[Michael White]

I own that particular Volume (two ) of " The Great War I Was There ". This is page 785. I was lucky enough to find it at a garage sale

Mike