George Dare Dowell


George Dare Dowell was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Dowell was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery, Royal Marines during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 13 July 1855 at the Fort of Viborg in the Gulf of Finland, when an explosion occurred in one of the cutters of HMS Arrogant, Lieutenant Dowell, who was on board HMS Ruby, took three volunteers and went, under very heavy fire to the assistance of the cutter. He took up three of the crew, and having rescued the rest and also the Captain of the Mast, he then towed the stricken boat out of enemy gun range.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel.
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.

The medal

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