The A.G.S. ‘Nyasaland 1915’ and Great War Group of 3 awarded to Lieutenant John R. Downs, Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, who took part in the suppression of the Chilembwe Uprising and appears to have been directly involved the subsequent and controversial burial of John Chilembwe’s body – receiving orders to bury him in a secret, unmarked grave near Mulanje Boma to prevent it becoming a venerated site, and to avoid further upheaval, comprising: Africa General Service, 1902-56, single clasp, Nyasaland 1915 (J. R. Downs. Nyasaland Vol: Res:); British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1920 (Lieut. J. R. Downs.); Group loose, nearly extremely fine (3) Lieutenant John R. Downs, based in Blantyre, Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi) served during the Great War with the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve and was present during the Chilembwe Uprising, in which the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve played a prominent part in helping to suppress. Local religious political leader John Chilembwe had become incensed by the treatment of famine refugees from Mozambique and the conscription of local soldiers to fight in East Africa during the Great War, and resolved to organise a rebellion against the British. Rallying an initial 200 followers to his cause, he began by ordering the execution of a particularly corrupt plantation owned named William J. Livingston, who was duly executed in front of his family. As the rebellion failed to gain widespread support, Chilembwe fled, but was shot and killed by 3 African soldiers on 3 February 1915. In the online article Mystery Surrounding John Chilembwes Death by Gift Kayira (2014), it was written that: (after the death of Chilembwe)the magistrate ordered the secret burial of the body in an unmarked grave about two miles away from Mulanje Boma close to the Esperanza Estate. This he did to avoid Chilembwes death becoming a focus of further upheaval and his burial site venerated as a place of pilgrimage. Evidence shows that the task of burying Chilembwe was delegated to John R. Downs, a Mandala employee, and another member of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve. The two instead solicited the assistance of two police officers who carried the body and also dug the grave. Unfortunately no record of his burial was left behind. Lieutenant John R. Downs later served as Second Lieutenant (1 May 1918) and as Lieutenant (15 November 1918) with the Nyasaland Field Force. His name is confirmed on the A.G.S. Medal Roll, and in his Great War M.I.C., with entitlement as above. Worthy of further research.

Estimate: GBP 250-300