Lieutenant George Dare Dowel

Royal Marines Artillery, HMS Ruby, Baltic Sea

The previous page was: "Bamford VC"

Lieutenant George Dare Dowell VC, Royal Marines Artillery.

H.M.S. Ruby, Baltic Sea.

George Dare Dowell born 15th February 1831 to 3rd August 1910, (aged 79). His Place of birth was Fishbourne, Chichester, West Sussex.

George Dare Dowell was one of the English recipients of the Victoria Cross, earned in the Crimea War. It is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He served in the Royal Marines Artillery from 1849 to 1872.

When George Dowell was 24 years old, he was a lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery. He was serving with the Royal Marines during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 13th July 1855, whilst serving at sea off the Forth of Viborg in the Gulf of Finland, an explosion occurred in the magazine of one of the cutters of "H.M.S. Arrogant", Lieutenant Dowell, who was on board "H.M.S. Ruby", took three volunteers and went, under very heavy fire to the assistance of the cutter.

He took off three of the crew, and having rescued the rest and also the Captain of the Mast, George Ingouville, RN, he then towed the stricken boat out of enemy range.

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London Gazette _ 21st November 1857

His Victoria Cross had the Blue Ribbon (won at sea) and he was also presented with the Crimea Medal with Baltic Clasp.

He later achieved the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel; a former type of miltary commission conferred especially for outstanding service, by which an officer was promoted to a higher rank without the corresponding pay.

He is buried at Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand. He died in 1910, and has quite an unusual gravestone. His wife is buried approximately 10M to the right of his grave; her gravestone is in the same style.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea, England.

The next Link below will be: "Elizabeth Cross"

Dowell VC Elizabeth Cross

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