Guest Posted 11 November , 2019 Share Posted 11 November , 2019 I'm trying to find out more information and what happened to this soldier. I have a photo of my great grandad in the Grenadier Guards in June 1917 that says Sergt G W Down's Squad, Grenadier Guards, June 1917. That's all I have on him! Anything else would be appreciated, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 11 November , 2019 Share Posted 11 November , 2019 (edited) There is a Guardsman George William DOWNS 11978 of the 1st Bn GG in Medal Records. He is listed as entitled to 1914 Star,British War and Victory Medals. On first landing on 7.10.1914 the unit was with 20 Inf Bde of 7 Division and later,in Aug 1915,a Guards Division was created and the unit was with 3 Guards Bde of Guards Division. This soldier appears to have survived the war. Edited 11 November , 2019 by sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 18 hours ago, sotonmate said: There is a Guardsman George William DOWNS 11978 of the 1st Bn GG in Medal Records. He is listed as entitled to 1914 Star,British War and Victory Medals. On first landing on 7.10.1914 the unit was with 20 Inf Bde of 7 Division and later,in Aug 1915,a Guards Division was created and the unit was with 3 Guards Bde of Guards Division. This soldier appears to have survived the war. Thanks, but he was a sergeant not a Guardsman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 A lack of other GG candidates in Medal records with your details ! Do you know any more about his service, was he a Regular,age,duration etc, and residence ? Is it possible that he served only at Home ? Training, possibly ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 (edited) He was probably not a guardsman either - rank created in 1918. Most likely he wasnt a Sgt in France - hence not shown on medal card - Sgt was probably his rank when he was in charge of recruits in the UK His number looks early so would have been a pre war regular - not that Im an expert as its the wrong Guards Edited 12 November , 2019 by Coldstreamer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 (edited) Sotonmate as almost certainly found the right person given the info he had - if not Ill eat my bearskin Edited 12 November , 2019 by Coldstreamer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 His papers are available on line Back from France December 1914 - and rank above Private at home as didnt go back to France was in 5th Btn which I THINK is a reserve/training btn was he from Nottingham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 (edited) I know nothing about him.He's not family. This is all i have on him. The soldier in question is on the left of the guy in white as you look at the photo. Edited 12 November , 2019 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 given what you have I would say this is your man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 8 minutes ago, Coldstreamer said: given what you have I would say this is your man Hope so, another part of the jigsaw. So even though he was a sergeant he didn't go to France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Coldstreamer said: His papers are available on line Back from France December 1914 - and rank above Private at home as didnt go back to France was in 5th Btn which I THINK is a reserve/training btn was he from Nottingham? My great grandad transferred to 4th battalion grenadier guards from 5th battalion in 1918. So GW Downs was maybe his training sergeant? Edited 12 November , 2019 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 some people had to stop at home and do the training of the new men - being a Sgt gave him the authority over the other ranks - Ive medals to many men who had rank and never went overseas in WW1 he may well have trained him at some point yes - sometimes you get fully named squad pictures (the Coldstream did and this pic is the same style) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 November , 2019 Share Posted 12 November , 2019 My great grandad is in that squad picture I showed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 13 November , 2019 Share Posted 13 November , 2019 FMP has this which shows Downs as Sergeant George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 November , 2019 Share Posted 14 November , 2019 as does post 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 16 November , 2019 Share Posted 16 November , 2019 Cheers for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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