Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private A. H. Downes, Monmouthshire Regiment, who died of wounds on the last day of 1914

1914 Star (1442 Pte., 1/2 Mon. R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (1442 Pte., Monmouth. R.), together with his metalled identity disc, good very fine and better (3) £100-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Monmouthshire Regiment formed by Lt. Col. P. A. Blagojevic, O. St. J., T.D..

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Albert H. Downes, a pre-war Territorial, was first embarked for active service in early November 1914, and died of shot wounds to the head on 31 December of the same year, while serving in the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. His passing was the subject of an unusual story in the Free Press of Monmouthshire, entitled ‘A Mother’s Single Vision’:

‘Private Downes was 19 years of age, and before the War resided with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. H. Downes at Twelve House, Hafodyrynys. He was a collier at Llanhilleth Colliery, and as a lad commenced work with Mr. Jenkins. Our representative on visiting the home found that the loss of the eldest son had caused profound grief. Mrs. Downes told our representative of a somewhat singular incident:

“Last night,” she said, “I was in bed thinking about our boy, wondering whether he had suffered much, and if he was decently buried. I had been trying to picture him for some days, but could not. Then last night I closed my eyes and I saw him closely. He was stretched out on the ground, his clothes were covered in mud and his face was quite black. He did not move and I saw him so clearly. Then someone seemed to come and take him away and the picture vanished. But I felt so happy at the time as it seemed to suggest that he had died without undergoing a lot of pain and that he had been buried decently.”

Mrs. Downes added that she was not accustomed to imagine things and the incident seemed to have made a great impression on her. The news of her son’s death came within a few days of the receipt of his last letter, dated 28 December 1914, quite a merry letter as his mother pointed out. It read:

“Dear Mother, I now write these few lines to let you know that I am all right, and to thank you for the parcel I received on Boxing Day. We were in the trenches on Christmas Day and we came out in the evening. We had a very merry Christmas considering the difficulties we are in at the present. The Germans were very merry, and they were singing all night and we gave them a few songs in return. We had plenty of presents sent to us for Christmas. I dare say you have seen a few letters in the Free Press. I hope you will have a very prosperous New Year. I had a letter from Enoch Roberts about his brother’s death, but we are not allowed to say anything about it. Hoping you and the family are all right. Your Loving Son, A. Downes.

P.S. I have come across Llew Davies and Bryn Gibb. They had Christmas Day in the trenches with us, and I gave them a share of my parcel, as they are attached to a different Company.”

Private Downes had been in the Territorials about three years, and he joined without his parents knowledge. His chum, Llew Davies, singularly enough, did not go out with the same draft, and their meeting on Christmas Day was quite a pleasant surprise for the deceased. He was of quiet temperament, but particularly keen on his work as a Territorial. In the home he was quite a favourite with his parents, brother and sisters. His father served in the Army for over 12 years, nine of which were spent in India.’

Downes is buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.