Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Downes

In memory of:

Trimmer William Downes

April 15, 1918

Military Service

Age:

22

Force:

Merchant Navy

Unit:

Canadian Merchant Navy

Division:

S.S. Pomeranian (Glasgow, Scotland) (85193)

Additional Information

Born:

January 1, 1896
Ratcliff, London, England

Son of John Joseph Downes and Jane Hannah Wells, of Stepney , London, England.

Brother of Private James Joseph Downes, conscripted into the US Army on June 5, 1917, regimental number 569, then in 1942, regimental number 552, without having taken part in any war.

This steam and sail cargo ship was torpedoed by UC-77 on April 15, 1918, in the English Channel 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Portland Bill, England. A total of 55 people lost their lives.

Commemorated on Page 24 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
London, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

N/A

Location:

THE TOWER HILL MEMORIAL stands on the South side of the garden of Trinity Square, a hundred yards East of Mark Lane Station, and just within the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney and the Liberty of the Tower. It is at the hub of maritime England. Behind it are Trinity House and the offices of the Port of London Authority, and the Thames stretches before it; the wide space of Great Tower Hill, leading down from it to the river, is the traditional forum of merchant seamen and their fellow workers. Lloyd's is on the North, the Custom House and Billingsgate Market are near it on the West, and beyond the Tower, Eastwards, is the long line of the Docks the greatest dock system in the world.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– The tower Hill Memorial is located in London, England at Tower Hill and across from the Tower of London. This Memorial is dedicated to the 50,700 Commonwealth merchant seamen, fishing fleet workers and other on-board crew lost during the First World War. Included on this list are the 480 Canadians that gave their lives in the cause of the Great War. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – The tower Hill Memorial is located in London, England at Tower Hill and across from the Tower of London. This Memorial is dedicated to the 50,700 Commonwealth merchant seamen, fishing fleet workers and other on-board crew lost during the First World War. Included on this list are the 480 Canadians that gave their lives in the cause of the Great War. (J. Stephens)
  • Memorial– His name as it is inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial. The 480 fallen Canadians lost at sea, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – His name as it is inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial. The 480 fallen Canadians lost at sea, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: