William Edward Downie

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 04/08/2017 - 08:48

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Edward

Last Name:

Downie

Date of Birth:

Friday, April 10, 1896

Mother's Name:

Jane Downie nee McGee

Father's Name:

James Downie

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, October 7, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

7th Light Horse Regiment

Company:

2nd Machine Gun Squadron

Service:

Cavalry

Awards:

Military Medal

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Bulli, N.S.W.

Details:

William Edward Downie (Service No 373), was born in Woonona, N.S.W.

At enlistment, he was single, 18 years old, worked as a labourer and lived in Woonona, N.S.W.

William embarked on HMAT A33 Ayrshire, with the 7th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron, on 20th December 1914. He arrived in Egypt on 1st February 1915, and was sent to Gallipoli, Turkey, on 15th May 1915. William was transferred to the Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Squadron, on 8th November 1916. He saw service in Egypt and the Middle East, and while he has no wounding on file, he suffered the usual illnesses of men who served in the Middle East. On 1st December 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal but the reason is not on file. William was promoted to Corporal on 30th August 1918. He was returned to Australia in November 1918, and discharged medically unfit on 24th February 1919.

On 8th December 1919, William enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy, and served as a stoker, until 10th July 1922, when he was discharged medically unfit due to war service.

On 8th September 1923, he married Bertha Morgan at Bulli, N.S.W.

On 2nd July 1944, in Wollongong, N.S.W., William enlisted for service in WW2. He served as Private Downie (Service No N488808), with the 12th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, part time, until 30th September 1945.

William died in Bulli, N.S.W., in 1971.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DOWNIE W E