DOWNER, Albert Edward

Albert was born 1886 in Hunnyhill, Newport to Walter & Fanny DOWNER who were living at 2 Heytesbury Villas, Heytesbury Road in Newport around the time of Albert’s death. The family had previously lived at Worsley Road (1891) & 3 Hunnyhill (1901) both in Newport.

Albert, aged 29, was reported as Killed in Action on the 2nd of March 1915 & buried close to where he fell on the battlefield, his grave marked with a simple cross. However, when attempts were made to exhume his body for burial within the Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery in France, no body was found. Therefore, a small memorial was erected by the Commission within the cemetery to commemorate Albert with a Family Inscription, chosen by his father.

There were several other soldiers who's graves had been lost here & it is belived a German Shell had landed nearby & distrubed the graves before the end of the War.

Albert is also remembered on the Newport Borough War Memorial.