The AIF Project

Edward Leslie DOWNIE

Regimental number3290
Place of birthIslington, New South Wales
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationSeaman
AddressLewis Street, Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 7.25"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinFather, R.J. Downie, Lewis Street, Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the Senior Cadets.
Enlistment date26 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll25 July 1915
Place of enlistmentNewcastle, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name1st Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/18/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 5 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll53rd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 8), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
157
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Town. Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 1st Bn, Tel el Kebir, 6 January 1916.

Transfererd to 53rd Bn, 13 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 28 June 1916.

Found guilty, 10 July 1916, of being absent from 1800 parade, 7 July 1916: awarded 168 hours' Field Punishment No 2.

Reported Missing in Action, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 2 September 1917, prnounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 0950507, 3482 Pte D. SHIELDS, C Company, 53rd Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 5 June 1917: Downie was hit br shrapnel in the support trench on the afternoon (about 3 p.m.) of the charge at Fromelles on 19.7.16. this was before the charge and I saw him being led away to the Dressing Station after hearing the call for stretcher bearers. The bombardment was then on and was very heavy, so heavy that we had to start from the support trenches. With ordinary luck he should have got back safely as he was able to walk with assistance and there was a sap leading back, but it was of course subject to shrapnel and shell fire.' Note by interviewer: 'This witness was most anxious to give information but was difficult to pin down to definite useful particulars.'

Second statement, 1212 Sergeant L. APOLONY, 53rd Bn, 14 August 1917: 'At Fleur Baix (sic) on 19th July 1916 Downie was in my section. We went over the top about 6 o'clock. Just outside our trenches Downie fell. He received a wound in the head and apparently was instantly killed. I am quite sure the man who fell as described was Pte Downie.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DOWNIE Edward Leslie
Red Cross File No 0950507

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.