Soldier Record
George Downiing
Contributed by: Graham Downing, on 2008-11-06
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | George |
| Surname | Downiing |
| Year of Birth | 1899 |
| Year of Death | 1985 |
| Regiment | London Regiment |
| Place of Wartime Residence | London, Greater London |
George's Story
One of my most treasured possessions is the diary of my grandfather, George Downing, who fought from May 1918 until the end of the war. He kept his diary daily throughout his war service, and when he returned home, he wrote a detailed account of his experiences, including a harrowing account of 'going over the top' in a full attack on the German lines during the final, and ultimately successful allied offensive. A copy of the account was given by my father to the Imperial War Museum.
My Grandfather, George Robert Downing, fought on the Western Front in 1918
My grandfather was lucky. Because he was born in 1899, he only turned 18 in the last year of the war. Thus he had only served in France for 5 months when the Armistice brought an end to the war. His diary records for 11 November 1918: "LA GUERRE FINIS!" and for 12 November: Uncertain which way we shall go, London or Berlin"
No additional memories have been submitted