The AIF Project

Arthur Christopher DOWN

Regimental number921
Place of birthClarence Park, South Australia
SchoolChristian Brothers College, Adelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationWood working machinist
AddressMill Street, Clarence Park, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 11.5"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Rosetta Ann Down, Mill Street, Clarence Park, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Machine Gun Section, 16th Light Horse Regiment, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date27 November 1914
Place of enlistmentOaklands, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Light Horse Regiment, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/14/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A59 Botanist on 2 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Light Horse Regiment
FateDied of wounds 9 October 1918
Place of death or woundingDamascus, Syria
Age at death33
Age at death from cemetery records33
Place of burialDamascus British War Cemetery (Row D, Grave No. 17), Syria
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
7
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in St George the Martyr's Anglican Church, Goodwood, Adelaide, South Australia. Inscription reads: 'To the Glory of God. In Honour of Our Lady, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed George the Martyr & of all the Blessed Saints. To the dear Memory of all those who went forth from this Altar, where they offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, to give their lives in the Great War. This Screen is Blessed on Anzac Day 25 April 1922 being the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist.' Commemorated on Goodwood Public School Roll of Honor. Photo: Peter Dennis. Parents: Thomas Daniel and Rosetta Ann DOWN, Mill Street, Clarence Park, South Australia
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine, Syria

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 2 June 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 27 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Marched out to 9th Light Horse Regiment, Serapeum, 27 February 1916. Marched out to Rest Camp, Port Said, 7 November 1916; returned to duty, 13 November 1916.

Found guilty, 8 January 1917, of neglecting to obey a routine order in that he did not obey Para. 495 Divl. Routine Orders re cutting of palms at Marsaid on 4.1.17: forfeited 2 days' pay.

Wounded in action, 9 January 1917 (gun shot wound, left thigh); admitted to 14th General Hospital, 14 January 1917; discharged to Moascar, 18 March 1917.

Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment, 17 April 1917.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 26 April 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 13 May 1917 (tonsilitis); discharged to duty, 17 May 1917.

Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 7 June 1917 (lumbago); transferred to British Red Cross Convalescent Hospital, Montazah, 16 June 1917; discharged, 27 June 1917, and taken on strength, 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar.

Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment, 4 July 1917.

Admitted to Rest Camp, Port Said, 3 October 1917; rejoined unit, 13 October 1917.

Detached to Imperial School of Instruction, 20 October 1917; rejoined unit, 10 November 1917.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 12 November 1917; reverted to Lance Corporal, 17 January 1918; appointed Temporary Corporal, 13 June 1918.

Admitted to Rest Camp, Port Said, 1 July 1918; rejoined unit, 23 July 1918.

Promoted Corporal, 13 September 1918.

Reported missing in action, Prisoner of War, and wounded, 29 September 1918; recaptured from enemy, 1 October 1918.

Admitted to hospital, Damascus, 4 October 1918 (wounded); died of wounds, 9 October 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DOWN Arthur Christopher

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