DOWNIE, James Allan
| Service Number: | 2780 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 February 1915, Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Farrier Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Woonoona, New South Wales, Australia, 2 January 1891 |
| Home Town: | Bulli, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Helemsburg State School |
| Occupation: | Farrier |
| Died: | At home, Campbell Street, Woonona, New South Wales, Australia, 11 December 1947, aged 56 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Bulli Cemetery, NSW Portion Ind, row SE |
| Memorials: | Bulli Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Farrier Sergeant, 2780, 5th Field Ambulance, Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement 2780, 5th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked 2780, 5th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Sydney |
Help us honour James Allan Downie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of James and Jane DOWNIE, Woonona, New South Wales
James saw action in Eygpt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium
Mr James Allan Downie, who died at his residence in Campbell Street, Woonona, on Thursday last, was born in Woonona 56 years ago and was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Downie. He was married in Bulli to Miss Lydia M. Doel. Keenly interested in the military he served for many years with the militia in which he held the rank of Warrant Officer. He joined up with the A.I.F. at the outbreak of World War I and served with an ambulance unit, later transferring in France to the artillary. He held the rank of sergeant. On his return from active service he maintained his interests in the military and was a regular attendant at military camps. When World II broke out he joined up with a transport unit, with the rank of Lieutenant, but his health prevented him from going overseas, and he was placed on the reserve of officers and returned to civil life.
For many years he had conducted a carrying business in Woonona and was still actively engaged in this business at the time of his death. He took a keen interest in the affairs of the Returned Soldiers League, and was a foundation member of the Woonona-Bulli sub-branch and also a trustee of the new hall which the sub-branch is building. He regularly attended the Anzac Day march in Sydney, where he was always the N.C.O. in charge , of his unit's Colour Party. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a man of very generous nature and unostentatiously did many acts of kindness to people requiring assistance.
He is survived by his widow, and three daughters, Margaret, Doris and Judith.
Click images to start slideshow.