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20876 Private John Thomas Down

9th(Service)Battalion

Devonshire Regiment

1st July 1916

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Born in Spreyton Devon in 1892.

His parents were James Down (1860-1943) and

Annie Catherine(1865-1939). No record of a marriage could be found(The 1911 census failed to provide a date either).  

John had a brother, William (1887-1941) and 2 sisters Bessie(1890-1893) and Edith Mary(born in 1895). 

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In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living at

Park Cottage, Spreyton, Devon. James was employed as an agricultural labourer. 

By the 1911 census, John was also working as a farm labourer at Hillerton,Bow,Devon.

 

He enlisted in Exeter in 1915  and was killed in action on 01/07/1916.

He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and

Allied Victory medals. 

Western Times Friday 28 July 1916 - "Pte. John Down of Bow, who belonged to the Devons, has been killed in France. He was the son of Mr  and Mrs Down of Lockgate, and joined the army less than a year ago. His brother,

Pte. W. Down, also of the Devons, is in hospital seriously wounded."

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