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Private Henry Andrew Downey

 

Henry Andrew Downey was born on 13 February 1894 at Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the last of five children of labourer (also farmer and car-man) Andrew Downey and his wife Rebecca (nee Armstrong). His mother died when he was just five years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Lisbellaw with his father, step-mother, brother and two half-sisters, and working as a carrier.

Downey enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 30 July and 19 August 1912 (No.724). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

At some point between 1914 and 1916 he returned to the UK, perhaps wounded, ill or injured, subsequently serving at the regimental reserve depot at Antrim. At the end of December 1916 Downey was one of forty North Irish Horsemen who volunteered to transfer to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The transfer took place on 9 January 1917, the same day they embarked for France, where they were posted to the 10th Battalion, joining it at Ploegsteert Wood on the Ypres front. He was issued regimental number 40641. He probably saw action with the battalion at Messines (June 1917) and Langemarck (16 August 1917).

The War Office Daily Casualty List of 6 October 1917 reported that he had been wounded. This probably took place at Langemarck, and this was later reported as a thigh wound.

Downey later transferred to the Army Service Corps (No. M/41113). He was discharged on 30 July 1919 and three months later was granted a pension. As late as 1922 his level of disability was assessed as 20 per cent.

Downey joined the Royal Irish Constabulary on 1 November 1920 (No.75036). He remained with the RIC, posted at Wexford, until the force was disbanded in April 1922.

It appears that he emigrated soon after this. On 24 December 1926 he married Grace Esler McCune in York, Ontario, Canada.