Distinguished Service Cross awarded to Lieutenant Commander Basil Nugent Downie (1893-1959). During World War I Downie served with the British Submarine Flotilla in the Baltic. In command of the submarine ‘C-26’ he endeavoured to sink two Konig class battleships in the Gulf of Riga in October 1917. Unfortunately the attack failed and Downie was forced to dive and remain submerged while the Germans dropped depth charges for over two hours. Finally he managed to surface and bring his submarine into Pernau. It was for this action that Downie was awarded the DSC.

The medal is in the form of a plain silver cross pattee, convexed. In the centre of the obverse is the Royal Cypher and on the reverse it is hallmarked. It is suspended from a blue ribbon with a central white stripe. The medal is mounted on a bar with five others: 1914-15 Star (MED1826), British War Medal (MED1827), Victory Medal (MED1828), Defence Medal 1939-45 (MED1829) and War Medal 1939-45 (MED1830). It has a fitted case of issue.