Regimental number: 491279 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2639 – 12, Item: 363949, PDF:- B2639 – SO12. Date of Birth 17/11/1893 @ London, England. N of K: Walter Down of R. R. #4 Chatham, Twsp. Kent Co, ON.  Rosebella (mother) of London, England. ON. A single labourer. Attestation 7/10/1915 at Chatham, ON. to 70^th Bn., transferred to 33^rd Bn. CDP- 21/10/1916.

Age: 22 yrs. 10 mos, Height: 5’ 3”, Girth: 34 ½ “, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Light Brown, Weight: 125# . Medical: 4/10/15  Chatham, ON. to 70^th Bn.

Arrived in England 26/03/16 aboard the S. S. Lapland. Transferred to the 58^th Bn. in France 8/05/16 with the 58^th .

30/09/16. Admitted to #16 General Hospital at LeTreport. Transfer to C.C.A.C. Folkstone. 4/10/16 with the 58^th Bn. on ‘Light Duty” 

Private Down transferred from the 70th to the 33rd battalion and left for overseas Mar. 17, 1916. He proceeded to France to the 58th Canadian Battalion and took part in the engagements at Ypres, St. Eloi and the Somme when, on Sept. 12, 1916, he received a bullet wound through the muscle of the left leg and had his right leg blown off immediately below the knee. He was taken to a dressing station and transferred to Lord Derby War Hospital, England, where he died Oct. 23.

Arthur was admitted to the Lord Derby General Hospital – Seriously ill 24/10/16 he had a compound fracture which resulted in an Amputation and a flesh wound to his left calf. “In the Somme Valley on the 17^th Sept. 1916 a piece of a German shell struck his right thigh and his right leg had to be Amputated, about mid-thigh. The wound on the back of his left calf  and was not in itself serious. Pte. Arthur Down DOW at 11:30 AM. 23/10/16.”  

At the time his father Walter Down, was then living at 37 St. George St., Chatham, ON. The Memorial Plaque aka: “The dearth Penny” and the Memorial  Scroll went to his father The Memorial Cross went to his mother.

DOWN Initials: A G Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) Unit Text: 58th Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 23/10/1916 Service No: 491279 Additional information: Son of Walter and Rosebella Down, of London England. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: C. CE. 827. Cemetery: WARRINGTON CEMETERY, Lancashire, UK.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cenotaph	Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham
Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (21-10-1916), Chatham Daily Planet (11-10-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (14-11-1916), Chatham Daily Planet (27-09-1919), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2639 - 12, LAC, CVWM
Supplemental Information	Son of Walter and Rosebella Down, of London England. A labourer. Attestation 7/10/1915 at Chatham, ON. to 70th Bn., transferred to 33rd Bn. CDP 21/10/1916. Age: 23 Date of Death: 23/10/1916 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: C. CE. 827. Cemetery: WARRINGTON CEMETERY

Height	5'3"
Weight	125 lbs. lbs
Eye Colour	Grey
Age	22 yrs, 10 mths
Complexion	Fair
Hair	Light Brown
Race	white
Birthplace	17/11/1893 at London, England
Religion	Anglican
Last Place of Employment	International Harvester Company, Chatham
Average Earnings	2/day
Marital Status	single
When Enlisted	Oct. 1915
Where Enlisted	Chatham, Ontario
Next of Kin	Walter Down of R. R. #4 Chatham Twsp. Kent, ON.

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