Henry Stephen Daniel Downing was born in the county of Berkshire in 1884, his birth recorded at Newbury in the September quarter of that year. 

 

He appears on the 1891 census as a six year old living at 62 Albany Road, Reading with his parents and siblings.  The household comprised Henry Downing senior, a 33 year old joiner and fitter from Pangbourne, Berkshire, his 27 year old Irish-born wife Mary J Downing and their three children: Henry Stephen Daniel, Florence E (aged four) and Arthur (aged two).  There was also a boarder: Maud Piggott (aged 12).

 

By the time the 1901 census was taken the family had moved to 68 Belmont Road where Henry senior’s occupation is noted as “cycle engineer”.  Four more children had appeared since the 1891 census was taken and the household now comprised Henry and his wife and their seven children: Henry Stephen Daniel (aged 16 and working as a butcher), Florence (aged 14), Arthur (aged 12), Violet May (aged nine), Lilian Mary (aged six), Rose Gladys (aged four) and Beatrice (aged eight months).

 

Henry Downing’s badly burnt service record exists at the National Archives in London and from this it is possible to piece together some of his service record.  He attested on 11th December 1915 and was placed on the army reserve the following day.

 

Living at Newick when he attested, Henry Downing gave his aged as 31 years and 62 days, his “Trade or Calling” as insurance agent and his marital status as widower.  A Baptist by religion, he had married Annie Jane Wiltshire at Newick Parish church on 25th April 1911 and was the father of two girls: Queenie Lilian (born at Steyning, Sussex on 25^th March 1912) and Gladys Annie May (also born at Steyning on 28^th December 1913).  

 

Annie Downing, born in 1887 in Ludlow, Shropshire, died at Lewes in October 1915 leaving Henry with two young daughters to bring up on is own.  Nevertheless, this did not deter him from volunteering to fight for his King and Country and, judging by his attestation date, he almost certainly joined under the Derby Scheme.

 

 

He was mobilised at Chichester on 1st June 1916 and posted to the Royal Sussex Regiment depot the following day.  On the 8th July he got married for a second time; to Daisy May Heasman.  A wedding photo of the couple appears on this page.  Daisy would later bear Henry three more children: Winifred May Downing, born 5th June 1917 at Lewes (died 1997), Grace Violet Downing, born 1920 (died 1987) and Ronald Downing, born 1926

 

On 1st September, Henry was posted to the 3rd (reserve) battalion and posted again (to the 14th battalion) on the 24th October.  On 7th November 1916 he was posted to the 1st East Surrey Regiment in France and it was while serving with them that he was captured at Fresnoy on 8th May 1917.

 

Surviving records do not state where he was taken immediately after capture but between 9th January 1918 and 11th January 1919 he was interred at Museberg.

 

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes Henry Downing in its July 1917 issue, recording that Pte H S D Downing is missing.  In September, it notes that he is a prisoner and in January 1918 that he is serving with the 1st East Surrey Regiment and is a prisoner.  That information is then repeated up to and including the final published role in July 1919.

 

After the war, Harry obviously picked up from where he had left off as Mick Pateman remembers him working for The Prudential and coming round on his bike to collect “tuppence a week” from people.

 

The National Archives notes two numbers for Henry Downing:  6556 was his number when he joined the Royal Sussex Regiment and 25752 when he transferred to the East Surreys.  He received the British War and Victory medals.

 

Henry's brothers-in-law, Albert, Frederick and Gilbert Heasman had all emigrated to Australia by the time the First World War began and all three volunteered for servce with the Australian Imperial Force.  Albert and Gilbert both won the Military Medal and Frederick was killed in action in 1917.  He is commemorated on Chailey's war memorial.  The biographies of all three brothers can all be read on this site.

 

Henry Downing died in Brighton in 1978.

 

 

Sources & Acknowledgements

 

• 1891 Census of England & Wales
• 1901 Census of England & Wales
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• The National Archive’s on-line medal information card index
• Henry Downing’s service record exists in the WO 363 series at The National Archives
• I am indebted to Henry Downing's grandson, Jim Type, for contacting me and providing further information about his grandfather.