Andrew Marshall Downie

RankMajor Andrew Marshall Downie
Medals1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
RegimentHighland 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

Death20th July 1915
Circumstances of Death

Died of wounds, Deaconess Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt

Age39
BurialAlexandria (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.

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 NecropolisCompartment Epsilon Lair 463
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

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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