Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Hugh Downes represented the Australian Imperial force throughout the entirety of World War One, representing his country respectively for 3 and half years. George was born in Norwood, Adelaide, on January 1897, living with his parents Elizabeth Downes and his father. George’s family was part of the Church of England a sub-branch of Christianity, believing that the bible contains all the components of Christian faith and knowledge. After schooling, he worked as a laborer, a common job in the 1900’s as lack of educational services restricted job choice when he became older. At 19 and 4 months on May 31st, 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, commanding himself as a representative of the future ANZAC’s and the legacy of what is World War One.

Following his enlistment on May 31st, 1915, George headed to a training camp in possibly Egypt, where he was assigned to the 4th reinforcement and 27th battalion. He underwent, a number of months of training before he departed on the 21st of September on the Star of England, heading to Gallipoli. Due to George's knowledge of Infantry weapons and machinery, his Battalion placed him in the frontline defence, the closest to the area of contact. Arriving on the battlefield, was much different than what anyone could imagine dead bodies, blood, gasses, bombs and gun shots all set the tone for the tough months and years ahead.

George arrived near the latter part of this battle, only fighting in the next few grueling months. The conditions in Turkey upon arrival were quite murky and cold, but nothing like the challenges met during the winter months. The British and France alliances planned a very poor attack on the Turk’s landing on a very steep hill, blocking themselves from the opposition on the higher ground. Rocks, barbed wire, potholes all obstructed them from possessing a threat towards their lines. Australians and other partaking members of the Triple Entente were unable to break or hurt the Turkish defenses, causing many Infantry dead’s for the Australian’s and other commanding members of this battle. This battle ended on January the 6th, as the losing side to the Turkish whom had always been front-runners in the battle. He and his battalion then traveled to the France to fight in the battle of the Somme.

His first recorded injury came on the 30th of June 1916, while fighting in the battle of the Somme suffering from shell shock, a common disease caused by lack of sleep. He got admitted from the hospital on the 13th of July and fully returned on the 30th. Three months later just preceding the end of the Somme he got sick during the battle, as being exposed from the winter and summer climates affected his performance on the battlefield forcing the sergeants to send him to hospital due to a bad fever and cough, on the 9th and again on the following month on 13th and 21st after trench sickness. The battle of the Somme ended on the 18th of November.

In early 1917 the 27th Battalion fought on the western front holding on the Germans on the Hindenburg Line. It was a German defensive position of World War One, built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front, from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne. The battalion then worked with Victory here was followed up with the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October, in which the 27th Battalion also played a role, meaning the British alliances defeated the German lines.

Following his sickness on the 21st/12/17 he was out of action for 3 months returning on the 28/2/18 he was then discharged from hospital and returned to battle in the following few days. His daily rations throughout World War One consisted of Anzac biscuits-a substitute for bread as flour was unable to be transported to the battlefield, canned beef and salted crackers, they had to use staple foods, in order to make sure food lasted a long time during battle. A major injury then came on the 8-7-18 where he was shot in the leg, competing in the fourth battle of France and Flanders. A personal anecdote about this incident was written by a nearby more solid at the time of the shooting. ‘I was awakened by a shot near my head. Then I saw P.T.E Downes holding his leg up with a shot through his foot’. He left the United Kingdom after being out of action after a foot injury during battle, he returned to his fighting duties in October where he only completed a further 3 months of fighting, until he was released by the battalion of the 17th of January 1919 and came back to Australia on the 31st of April 1919, greeted by his close friends and family after the tough years apart on duty.

George Hugh Downes was a courageous, loyal and dedicated Australian, fighting throughout the duration of the World War One, commanding himself as a true ANZAC. Winning the Victory Meal, British war memorial medal and the 1914/15 stars medal, are all materialistic objects showing his commitment and sacrifice to his country and family.