DOWNS, William Joseph
| Service Numbers: | 23221, NX111819 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 May 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/7th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron |
| Born: | Yilgarn, Western Australia, 27 January 1919 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine Smith |
| Died: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 24 January 1997, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
East Maitland Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia The Western Australian Garden of Remembrance |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 30 May 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, 23221 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 1941: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, 23221 | |
| 7 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX111819 | |
| 11 Oct 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Craftsman, NX111819, 2nd/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment , emplaned Townsville for Port Moresby | |
| 2 Dec 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Craftsman, NX111819, 2nd/7th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron, embarked Port Moresby for Cairns on board Katoomba | |
| 29 Dec 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Craftsman, NX111819, embarked Cairns for Aitape | |
| 3 Oct 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Craftsman, NX111819, embarked NG for Brisbane on board Bontika | |
| 7 Nov 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX111819 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Craftsman William Joseph Downs (Service No:NX111819) initially served in the RAN (ERAV; Service No:23221) from 30 May 1939 to 18 November 1939, enlisting in Fremantle and serving on board HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Sydney. Private Downs then enlisted in the ACMF (Service No:N211541) at Merrylands Drill Hall with 25 Field Coy RAE - appointed Blacksmith. He transferred to the AIF on 22 July 1942 and was attached to 25 Field Coy and 10 Australian Brigade Workshops before serving in New Guinea (11 October 1942 to 2 December 1943) with 2nd/7th Commando Squadron - Craftsman Downs was hospitalised on several occasions with Malaria. Transferred in 1944 to 110 Australian Brigade Workshop, Craftsman Downs served again in New Guinea (29 December 1944 to 3 October 1945) and was Discharged on 7 November 1945. In 1953 he enlisted in the RAAF (Corporal; Service No:A52797) - appointed Blacksmith - and served in NSW until the early 1980s.
Bill was born in Wesonia via Yilgarn, WA in 1919, fourth of five children of William Downs Snr (b1875 in Warwickshire, England) and Amelia Smith (b1892 in Reefton, New Zealand). William worked as a Bricklayer for his Uncle in England before immigrating, and was a Bricklayer in Geraldton in 1913 when he and Amelia married. They lived in Geraldton, Boulder and Westonia before settling in Fremantle in the 1920s - William worked as a Bricklayer.
Bill was an Engine Smith in Fremantle WA when he enlisted in the RAN in 1939, and following his Discharge shortly afterwards, worked in Sydney, NSW as an Engine Smith with Waddington Engineering Coy before enlisting in the Army in 1942. In 1944 in Melbourne, Bill married Audrey Nellie Talintyre (b1919 in Melbourne, Victoria) - Audrey was a Rubber Worker in Melbourne. Following his Discharge in 1945, Bill and Audrey moved to Mt Barker, WA where Bill worked as a Blacksmith before enlisting in the RAAF in 1953. Bill and Audrey lived in Beresfield, Newcastle, NSW where they raised their family and Bill served in the RAAF until the early 1980s. Bill died in 1997 and Audrey in 2010.
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