Private James Ernest Downward; 19930 Dorset Reg. 09537 49th Army Ordnance Corps., TR/8/12937 Training Reserve Battn.
Medal Index Card confirms served overseas 1916 or later. National Archives Soldiers’ Service Papers (WO 363) and Pension Papers (WO 364) state he was born at Whitewell and a draper aged 19 years 3 months resident at 7 Brooklands, Chester Road, Whitchurch when he enlisted at Whitchurch on 31 August 1915. Next of kin, father William Downward of Drury Lane, Tybroughton, Whitchurch. Originally Private 09537 and a storeman with 49th (S) Company, the Army Ordnance Corps, he was transferred on 9th April 1917 as no. TR/8/12937 to the 36th Training Reserve Battalion [at Wareham, Dorset]. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal 3 July 1917 before posting to the 29th Infantry Base Depot, Rouen, two days later. Transferred to the 1st Dorset Regiment on 26th July 1917. Appointed Acting Lance Corporal (paid) 26 May 1918. Hospitalised with bronchitis 28 September 1918 and returned to UK 1 October 1918. In hospital, Manchester until demobilised to Army Reserve Class Z on 9 April 1919: fitness category B, under 20 per cent disability owing to bronchitis (arising from being gassed in March 1918, not diagnosed till September). Aged 22, was awarded a pension 5s. 6d. weekly for 6 months.
James was born 6th May 1896 to parents William Downward & ?.
He married Elsie Bamford . In 1939 they are living in Essex and James Ernest is a photographer.
He died in 1970 in Oxfordshire but is buried at St Mary’s Church, Whitewell.
Hanmer WW1 