Rank
Major
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Highland Light Infantry, 1st/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion
Military Service
1898 Andrew Marshall Downie, Gent., was gazetted a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, HLI on 25 May.
1908 Captain Downie, with other officers of the battalion, was transferred from the 1st Volunteer Battalion, HLI to the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, HLI on 1 April.
1913 Promoted to Major.
1915 Downie sailed for Gallipoli in May 1915 as officer commanding ‘A’ Company, 1st/5th HLI. The battalion landed at Cape Hellas (V beach) on the night of 2/3 July. On the afternoon of 12 July an attack was made on the Turkish trenches by 157th Brigade with 1/5th HLI in reserve. ‘A’ Company was sent forward to support the 6th HLI and soon after 6pm that day Downie led Nos 3 and 4 platoons forward to take a Turkish trench. He was almost immediately severely wounded by a bullet in the head. He was evacuated to Alexandria on the hospital ship Reva and landed on the 19 July.
Born
18 August 1875, Shettleston, Glasgow
Death
20th July 1915
Circumstances of death
Died of wounds, Deaconess Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
Age
39
Burial
Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Q. 484
CWGC Information
Son of James Downie, of Glasgow; husband of Jane Margaret Begg Downie, of Netherby, Bridge-of-Allan, Stirlingshire.
Parents
James Downie (c1828-1888) and Isabella Patrick (c1831-1875)
Fathers Occupation
Manufacturer of coloured and silk goods
Siblings
Robert (1853 – ), John (1855-1857), James W (1857-1921), Charles (1861-), John P (1863-bef1869), Isabella P (1868- ), John P (1869-1945), Elisabeth (c1876-)
Spouse
Jane Margaret Begg; married at Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow 19 October 1914
Education
Allan Glen’s School, Glasgow
Downie enrolled at the University of Glasgow in 1896 to study Engineering, during which time he was awarded 1st prize in the Engineering Laboratory class in session 1896-97. He graduated in Engineering on 18 April 1899 and went on to become a civil engineer.
He later gained a diploma from the Technical College in Mechanical Engineering.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on the 23rd April, 1901.
Occupation
Assistant manager, Mechanical Engineers (1901)
Managing Director of Duncan Stewart and Company, Engineers, of Glasgow and a Director of RM Downie and Company, Shippers of Manchester.
1881 Census
Bertrohill House, Shettleston
1891 Census
Bertrohill House, Shettleston (living with his eldest brother and sister in law)
1901 Census
51 Cecil Street, Partick, Glasgow (boarding with the Cowper family)
1911 Census
5 Strathmore Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow
Home Address
1915 – 7 Bute Mansions, Hillhead, Glasgow
Glasgow Necropolis
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
Allan Glen’s School, War Memorial
University of Glasgow Engineering Department
Other Information
His brother J W Downie, MB, CM served as a Major at the 3rd Scottish General Hospital [Stobhill] in the First World War
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to the University of Glasgow, Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), and Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk),
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918, by Officers of the Battalion. 1921.
The London Gazette – https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
Rank
Major
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Highland Light Infantry
Regiment Information
Highland Light Infantry, 1st/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion
Military Service
1898 Andrew Marshall Downie, Gent., was gazetted a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, HLI on 25 May.
1908 Captain Downie, with other officers of the battalion, was transferred from the 1st Volunteer Battalion, HLI to the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, HLI on 1 April.
1913 Promoted to Major.
1915 Downie sailed for Gallipoli in May 1915 as officer commanding ‘A’ Company, 1st/5th HLI. The battalion landed at Cape Hellas (V beach) on the night of 2/3 July. On the afternoon of 12 July an attack was made on the Turkish trenches by 157th Brigade with 1/5th HLI in reserve. ‘A’ Company was sent forward to support the 6th HLI and soon after 6pm that day Downie led Nos 3 and 4 platoons forward to take a Turkish trench. He was almost immediately severely wounded by a bullet in the head. He was evacuated to Alexandria on the hospital ship Reva and landed on the 19 July.
Born
18 August 1875, Shettleston, Glasgow
Death
20th July 1915
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds, Deaconess Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
Age
39
Burial
Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Q. 484
CWGC Information
Son of James Downie, of Glasgow; husband of Jane Margaret Begg Downie, of Netherby, Bridge-of-Allan, Stirlingshire.
Parents
James Downie (c1828-1888) and Isabella Patrick (c1831-1875)
Father's Occupation
Manufacturer of coloured and silk goods
Siblings
Robert (1853 – ), John (1855-1857), James W (1857-1921), Charles (1861-), John P (1863-bef1869), Isabella P (1868- ), John P (1869-1945), Elisabeth (c1876-)
Spouse
Jane Margaret Begg; married at Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow 19 October 1914
Education
Allan Glen’s School, Glasgow
Downie enrolled at the University of Glasgow in 1896 to study Engineering, during which time he was awarded 1st prize in the Engineering Laboratory class in session 1896-97. He graduated in Engineering on 18 April 1899 and went on to become a civil engineer.
He later gained a diploma from the Technical College in Mechanical Engineering.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on the 23rd April, 1901.
Occupation
Assistant manager, Mechanical Engineers (1901)
Managing Director of Duncan Stewart and Company, Engineers, of Glasgow and a Director of RM Downie and Company, Shippers of Manchester.
1911 Census
5 Strathmore Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow
Home Address
1915 – 7 Bute Mansions, Hillhead, Glasgow
Glasgow Necropolis
1881 Census
Bertrohill House, Shettleston
1891 Census
Bertrohill House, Shettleston (living with his eldest brother and sister in law)
1901 Census
51 Cecil Street, Partick, Glasgow (boarding with the Cowper family)
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
Allan Glen’s School, War Memorial
University of Glasgow Engineering Department
Other Information
His brother J W Downie, MB, CM served as a Major at the 3rd Scottish General Hospital [Stobhill] in the First World War
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to the University of Glasgow, Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), and Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk),
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918, by Officers of the Battalion. 1921.
The London Gazette – https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
Andrew Marshall Moument