Naval Volunteer's Death not recorded?.....

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:36 pm

Help!

Headstone No. 68 (LEYS family) in Crathie Kirkyard mentions a "William Lieut. Naval Volunteers died Calcutta India 23 December 1909 aged 49 and buried in the scottish cemetery there" and a "Pte. George A. Downie who was killed in action at Arras 27 Sept 1918 aged 33". I can find no statutory record for either of these and no mention on war memorials or CWGC for the latter. Any ideas?

Tish

Post by **Tracey** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:37 pm

Hello Tish

Is this your George ? same date ect.

Details of the Cemetery - Marquion is a village on the main Arras to Cambrai road (D939), about 25 kilometres from Arras.

Name: DOWNIE, GEORGE ALEXANDER
Initials: G A
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment: Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 33
Date of Death: 27/09/1918
Service No: 2020920
Additional information: Son of Alexander Downie.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 2.
Cemetery: QUARRY CEMETERY, MARQUION

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:00 am

Tracey,

I've gone into a swoon! What's a Canadian called Downie doing with myScottish forebears in a grave with people called Mitchell and Leys????? I'll never understand this family!

Sincere thanks for finding him for me. I looked on the CWGC site but of course I would have had his nationality wrong. Also, I wasn't sure from the headstone if Downie was his last name or a middle one.

Thanks again and if you can think of a reason for his inclusion on that headstone, I'd be thrilled!

Regards

Tish

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:13 am

tishgibbons wrote:Tracey,

I've gone into a swoon! What's a Canadian called Downie doing with myScottish forebears in a grave with people called Mitchell and Leys????? I'll never understand this family!

Sincere thanks for finding him for me. I looked on the CWGC site but of course I would have had his nationality wrong. Also, I wasn't sure from the headstone if Downie was his last name or a middle one.

Thanks again and if you can think of a reason for his inclusion on that headstone, I'd be thrilled!

Regards

Tish

He emigrated to Canada before WWI, so on the outbreak of war, or later, signed up with a Canadian unit ?!

As regards William LEYS, - if that is indeed his surname, - then there should be a Service & War Returns record for his death somewhere, but since he is shown as being buried in Calcutta, is it possible that he was also an emigrant, but to India, so that the records will be those of India at the time?

David

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:33 pm

Yes David,

only trouble is, I can't find a Downie connection to this family. Given his age, I am assuming he is the next generation down. William Leys who died in Calcutta had one sister that I know of but her married name was MacDougall and she seems to have lived her life in or around Crathie. I haven't found a birth record in Aberdeenshire yet that would match - when funds allow I'll spread that search out a bit. If he emigrated (as opposed to being born in Canada) would his nationality still be recorded as Canadian?

As to William Leys who died in Calcutta, no, there is no service/war record for his death. I find this strange as there is the birth of a Willian George Leys in 1887 in the Service Records. I'm assuming he's William's son but I can't be sure until the certificate arrives and I only ordered it last weekend.

Thanks as ever,

Tish

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:10 pm

Hi Tish,
You'll find George Alexander DOWNIE at the Veterans' Affairs Canada.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub. ... ollections
Click on The Books of Remembrance.
--
Details of him at Library & Archives Canada.
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/02010602_e.html

He says born 15 APR 1883 at Ballater, Aberdeenshire.
Unmarried and living in Vancouver when he joined the C.E.F.
Next of kin - Margaret McDOUGALL, aunt,
address - Forgalter Farm, Ballater PO, Aberdeenshire.

There are a few more details on him - eg occupation, height, complexion etc.
Jack

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:29 pm

Thanks Jack!

Just found his birth now and his mother is another Leys I hadn't found - Joan Fisher Leys. Can't find her death nor amrriage nor in 1891 or 1901 census. George Alexander Downie is with his Leys grandmother in 1891. Perhaps the parents emigrated first and he followed. Presuming also that they died before 1918 if he gave his aunt in Aberdeen as his next of kin. Do you think that might be a safe assumption?

Thanks again - great sites too - now it seems I have to search in Canada - Regards

Tish

Post by **Tracey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:11 am

Hi Tish

See where that got you

When i first looked on ANESFHS at the M.I,s there are a lot of inscriptions remembering loved ones in far flung places.
This site http://www.indian-cemeteries.org/ has the Scottish Cemetary on it but the info is for a lot earlier than you are looking at but there may be a link to help you ?
There may also be something on this http://www.fibis.org/ but i cant remember my way round this one

Good luck

Tracey

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:52 pm

Thanks everyone for your help on this one. George Alexander Downie safely accounted for but William Leys remains a mystery. No service record and not mentioned in the two sites with Indian connections (though they are still under construction).

Thanks again.

Tish

TalkingScot.com

Naval Volunteer's Death not recorded?.....

Naval Volunteer's Death not recorded?.....

Re George Alexander Downie