| Regimental number | 4773 |
| Place of birth | Belfast, Co Antrim, Ireland |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 6 months |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Miner |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 30 |
| Height | 5' 6.5" |
| Weight | 153.25 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, M D Downey, Okavaire via Oakland, New Zealand |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Townsville, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 15th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/32/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 15th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Work near Cerisy on 8 August 1918. Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of burial | Stoureridge Cemetery (Grave No. 6), Hereford and Worcester, England |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 75 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Michael and Jane DOWNEY, husband of Martha DOWNEY, 31 Third Street, Belfast, Ireland. |
| Medals |
Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115 Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front. Embarked, Brisbane, 28 March 1916; disembarked, Egypt, 5 May 1916. Admitted to 2nd Australian Hospital (influenza), Tel-el-Kebir, 13 May 1916; to 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 28 May 1916; discharged, 29 may 1916. Embarked, Alexandria, to join the British Expeditionary Force, 6 August 1916; embarked, England, for France, 23 September 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, France, 24 September 1916; proceeded to join the 15th Bn, 8 December 1916; taken on strength of 15th Bn, in the Field, 12 December 1916. Admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance (gun shot wound: left knee), 2 February 1917; to 45th Casualty Clearing Station, 4 February 1917; to 10th General Hospital, Havre, 5 February 1917; to England, 9 February 1917; admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital, England, 10 February 1917; to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 8 August 1917; discharged, 16 August 1917; and granted furlough until, 30 August 1917, to report to Weymouth Command Depot; marched into Weymouth Command Depot, 30 August 1917; marched into Hurdcott Command Depot, 5 October 1917; marched into Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 16 November 1917; proceeded overseas to France via Southampton, 10 January 1918; marched into Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, France, 11 November 1918; marched out to unit, 13 January 1918; rejoined Bn, 18 January 1918. Admitted to 92nd Field Ambulance (gassed: shell), 25 August 1918;to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, 25 August 1918; to 5th General Hospital, Rouen, 26 August 1918; to England, 15 September 1918; to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England, 16 September 1918; died of wounds, 1st Southern General Hospital, England, 23 September 1918. Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DOWNEY William Clarence |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
