BORN HULL 1889. SECOND SON OF THOMAS & SUSAN DOWNS, OF 8, FLORENCE GROVE, LORRAINE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION & CWGC ADDRESS). BOTH HIS PARENTS WERE BORN IN BELFAST. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS, HERBERT, WALTER AND SAMUEL.
EX RECKITT’S WORKER. HE MARRIED, ELSIE DAY, AT ST PAUL’S CHURCH, HULL, ON 20/11/1913. THEY LIVED AT THIS ARMY ADDRESS, WITH THEIR DAUGHTER, IRENE (BORN 17/04/1914).
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 26/11/1915, AGED 27 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 5.5 INCHES TALL, 35 INCH CHEST, 136 LBS WEIGHT. ARRIVED IN FRANCE, ON 02/06/1916. POSTED TO THE 7TH MANCHESTER REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION, ON 21/03/1918, AGED 29.
HE IS BURIED AT JEANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, AISNE, FRANCE. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “TAKEN FROM US BUT IN MEMORY ALWAYS NEAR”.
HIS ELDER BROTHER, HERBERT GEORGE DOWNS, EAST RIDING RGA, OF 15 LORRAINE STREET, WAS SEVERELY GASSED, ON 12/05/1918.
BOTH BROTHERS ARE RECORDED ON THE RECKITTS, WW1 MEMORIAL.
