Regimental number | 3290 |
Place of birth | Islington, New South Wales |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Seaman |
Address | Lewis Street, Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 18 |
Height | 5' 7.25" |
Weight | 132 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, R.J. Downie, Lewis Street, Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales |
Previous military service | Served in the Senior Cadets. |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Place of enlistment | Newcastle, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 1st Battalion, 11th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/18/3 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 53rd Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.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 |
Sources | NAA: B2455, DOWNIE Edward Leslie
Red Cross File No 0950507 |