DOWNIE, Edward Leslie
| Service Number: | 3290 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Islington, New South Wales, Australia, 12 June 1897 |
| Home Town: | Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Charlestown Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Seaman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 19 July 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" V.C. Corner (Panel No 8), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Newcastle 3rd Australian Garrison Artillery Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3290 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3290, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3290, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 19 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3290, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3290 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
Help us honour Edward Leslie Downie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 19th July 1916, Private Edward Leslie Downie, referred to as Les, 53rd Battalion (Reg No-3290), seaman from 48 Lewis Street, Maryville, New South Wales, was Killed in Action by shrapnel, Battle of Fromelles, age 19.
No Roll of Honour circular summited.
Born at Islington, New South Wales on the 12th June 1897 to Robert J (died 1.8.1938, Carrington, N.S.W., age 74, PRESBYTERIAN-17SE. 97, no memorial inscription) of Young Street, Carrington, New South Wales and Sarah Alice Downie nee Morley (died 5.8.1935, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 70, ANGLICAN 2-137. 14, no memorial inscription), Les enlisted on the 26th July 1915 with the 1st Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on the 5th October 1915.
Disembarked Marseilles, France, 28.6.1916.
Admitted to hospital 3.7.1916 (gastritis).
3 weeks in the field.
Reported Missing in Action - 19th July 1916.
A letter from the Red Cross states that Les had been hit by shrapnel (about 3 p.m.) while he was in the support trench before the charge at 6.p.m.
Reported Killed in Action - 2nd September 1917.
Mr. Downie’s name has been inscribed on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France. Memorial No 8.
Place of Association – Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Les’s name has also been inscribed on the Charlestown Public School Honor Roll, Wickham (Hawkins Oval) Soldiers' Memorial, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1) and the 3rd Australian Garrison Artillery Roll of Honour.
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaques for father Robert J Downie or mother Sarah Alice Downie to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, and I am unable to erect Memorial crosses, so I have placed poppies at their gravesites in remembrance of their son’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. PRESBYTERIAN-17SE. 97, ANGLICAN 2-137. 14.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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