Herbert Dennis Downs was my Great Uncle I never knew about until a few years ago whilst I was tracing my family tree. During my research I found the following newspaper article submitted by his mother. 4th June 1915 - Gestingthorpe Soldier killed. Information has been received by his mother that Pte. H. Downs of the 1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment son of Mrs. George Coe and the late Mr. Trueman Downs has been killed in action in France. The deceased soldier who was about 21 years of age and followed the occupation of a stockman had resided all his life at Offton, near Ipswich, where his parents resided until the decease of his father. He enlisted about the middle of last November and after undergoing a course of training at Felixstowe, he proceeded to France at the beginning of April (1915). Deceased was a well-built, popular young fellow and much sympathy is felt with his wife and little daughter and his mother. He has a number of relatives at Gestingthorpe and in North Essex.

Anthony Downs