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Cenotaph record

William Downs

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Portrait of Sergeant William Downs MM. Archives New Zealand, AABK 18805 W5537 48 / 0035275. Image may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Sergeant William Downs MM. Archives New Zealand, AABK 18805 W5537 48 / 0035275. Image m …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William AWMM
  • Surname
    Downs AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Bill Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Service number
    WWI 5/677 AWMM
  • Gender
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
    15 February 1882 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Birth certificate
  • Place of birth
    10 Hamilton St, Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Birth certificate
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Aitken Terrace, Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Grocer Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Miss G. Grainger (fiancee), 18 Onslow Road, Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
    • Gladys Marguerite Grainger Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Relationship status
    • Pre 13 November 1915 AWMM Single AWMM
    • Married Gladys Marguerite Grainger 12 June 1919 at 6 Arcadia Rd Epsom Auckland Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - family papers

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Egypt 1915-16, Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1916, France 1916-18 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Military personnel file
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 5/677 AWMM
  • Military service
    • Army Service Corps no3 Coy, no1 Coy; No 1 Coy NZ Divisional Train; No4 NZ Depot Unit of Supply Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Military personnel file
    • 12 Oct 1915-7 June 1919 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Military personnel file
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    • WW1 12 October 1915 AWMM Grocer/Civilian AWMM
      AWMM
    • 12 Oct 1915 Army Service Corps Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - Military Personnel File
  • Occupation before enlistment
    Grocer Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Age on enlistment
    33 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - Family papers

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    At enlistment: 5ft 8ins, 166 lbs, fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, chest 33-39 ins Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Military personnel file

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • William Downs married Gladys Marguerite Grainger, daughter of Matthew and Jessie Ellen Grainger at Mountain Rd, Mt Albert on 12 June 1919. They had 4 children : Marcia, Jean, Keith and John.
    William continued working at Hutchinson Bros as a travelling grocery distributor. He later worked in the Self Help grocery shop at Epsom. He was active in the local RSA and enjoyed the harness racing at Greenlane. William Downs was an officebearer at the Epsom Presbyterian Church. Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Family papers
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    12 June 1957 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
    12 June 1957 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Death certificate
  • Age at death
    75 Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Death certificate
  • Place of death
    Greenlane Public Hospital, Epsom, Auckland Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Death certificate
  • Cause of death
    Purulent bronchitis, Bronchopneumonia, Nephrosclerosis Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Death certificate
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
    Waikumete Cemetery Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Grave reference
    Plot A1/27 Returned Services Section Public - Jeffrey Robert - Other Relative - 29 April 2015 - Family papers
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Military personnel file
    https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en-NZ/web/arena/search#/entity/aims-archive/R20998667
    Further Reference
  • References
    • McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      Page No: 197 AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 2: Includes portrait AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
29 April 2015Jeffrey RobertHamilton New ZealandOther Relative

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