'Action in front of Belle Vue Spur, West of Passchendaele, 12th October 1917 and following days. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This noncommissioned officer did exceptionally good work and showed remarkable devotion to duty throughout the recent operation. When his Company was held up on 12th October 1917, and thoroughly disorganised he fearlessly exposed himself to locate his sections and reorganised his Platoon as a fighting unit despite heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire. From 13th October onwards he performed conspicuous work in attending to and carrying out the wounded under very trying conditions.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 14 January 1918

Regimental number	26301
Occupation	Farmer
Next of kin	Father, Robert McDowell, Dunsandel, Canterbury
Rank on embarkation	Private
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 17th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on board Pakeha on 23 September 1916
Medals	Military Medal 'Action in front of Belle Vue Spur, West of Passchendaele, 12th October 1917 and following days. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This noncommissioned officer did exceptionally good work and showed remarkable devotion to duty throughout the recent operation. When his Company was held up on 12th October 1917, and thoroughly disorganised he fearlessly exposed himself to locate his sections and reorganised his Platoon as a fighting unit despite heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire. From 13th October onwards he performed conspicuous work in attending to and carrying out the wounded under very trying conditions.' Source: London Gazette Date: 14 January 1918
Sources	Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 41, p. 12