Downey, J (James)

Downey, J (James)

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Private James Downey served with the Royal Irish Regiment, “C” Coy. 6th Battalion and was the husband of Margaret Downey (Ramsey), of 3, St. Patrick Street, Londonderry.

James was married on the 10th of October 1914 and joined the army on the 14th of December of the same year, he was also a member of the Irish National Volunteers Militia[1] and marched with a republican band called the “Owen Roe O’Neill.” It was named after an Irish hero from the 17th century.

On the 14th of July 1915 James celebrated the birth of his first child, George. He would though have little time to spend with his new family as he would be posted abroad within five months.

James landed with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Irish regiment in France on the 18th of December 1915 at Le Havre.[2] They left this area by train.

On the 16th of January 1916, the battalion was in Philosophe,[3] Belgium. They received their first casualties on that day (3 wounded NCO’s) and the first death on the following. This continued in small numbers regularly into February when they moved to trenches in Essars.[4]

Mid-February found them on the move again, still receiving low casualties (although regularly). The first drafts/replacements soon arrived by the end of the month, and they would then be changing positions again and reliving life in trenches in several other different places right into March.

On the 25th of March 1916, Private Downey received sad news of the death of his son George who was only eight months old and the first child he had with his new wife. There is no record, but it seems that he received compassionate home leave to spend some time with his mourning wife.

The 27th of April brought a more sinister event on the front when the Germans used gas at Noeux-Les-Mines[5] in France. They tried twice on that day but caused no damage. Two days later they tried again but the gas blew back over their own positions.

May found the 6th at Loos[6] and in supporting trenches. This continued into June at various places. At the end of the month there was a planned gas attack by the British. This though was cancelled due to the direction of the wind and lessons learned from the failed attacks of the Germans the previous month.

July began with the battalion being relieved and moving to Mazingarbe,[7] where they had huts and beds to sleep in. Unfortunately, these were shelled by the Germans on the 4th of July. Private James Downey was wounded in this incident. He was immediately sent to the County Hospital, Guildford, England. He would succumb to wounds on the 17th or possibly the 18th. His body was collected and taken home and he was laid to rest with full military honours on the 23rd of July 1916. There was a large turnout.

James’s widow gave birth to a baby boy 2 weeks later, on the 5th of August 1916.

James was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.

Date of Death: 17/07/1916 (Aged 23)

Service: Private, Royal Irish Regiment, “C” Coy. 6th Battalion.

Service Number: 2406

Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, M. D. 58.


[1] Irish National Volunteers Militia were founded during November 1913 in response to the creation of the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1912. They were an Irish Nationalist organization.

[2] Le Havre in a major port in Normandy region of, northern France

[3] Philosophe is in the Mazingarbe area, northern France.

[4] Essars is northwest of Philosophe, northern France

[5] Noeux-Les-Mines is an area in northern France south of Essars.

[6] Loos is northeast of Noeux-Les-Mines.

[7] Mazingarbe in east of Loos by about 8 miles.

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