Born 28 November, 1922 at Chatham, ON., son of Walter Alfred William and Charlotte (nee Harper) Down, of Richmond St., Chatham, ON., brother of Ethel, Rose and George of 182 Richmond Street,  Chatham, ON. Alf was educated at Central School 1929 – 36, went on the Chatham Collegiate Institute for grades 9 & 10, studied electricity at the Chatham Vocational School in 1938 and was at the O’Neil Business College on Queen St., Chatham for one and a half years. He played most sports through his school years. Upon leaving school he worked at the Mindorf’s Grocery Store, CPR Telegraph and Libby, McNeil and Libby, in Chatham as a laboratory assistant. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a telegraph messenger .

Alfred enlisted in the RCAF in Windsor, ON. on 11/07/1941 and began his training first at Alymer then Belleville, Montreal , St. Thomas. Alfred was reported on leave from training at Trenton to visit his parents before proceeding to Fengal, where he graduated and received his Air Gunner Wing badge in July of 1942. with the rank of Sergeant. CDN 17/07/42 and CDN 23/07/42 Also in 1942 Alf became engaged to Josephine McAlorum a former CVS student, Josephine had attended Alf’s graduation with his parents. A shower was given by Mrs Walter Down and Mrs. Norman R. Huxley at the Down home on Richmond St., Chatham CDN 20/07/42. The wedding took place, Saturday afternoon at Christ Church, Chatham. Mrs. Norman Huxley sang the wedding music. CDN 27/07/42 They would marry on the 25^th of July, 1942, honeymoon in Niagara Falls and set up a home at 65 ½ Centre Street, Chatham. A photo of the happy couple appeared in the CDN 29/07/42(P). Married life was interrupted when Flt. Sgt. Down was transferred overseas in August of 1942. Josephine would remarry James McKeone they would have three daughters and Josephine would raise her family in Chatham, passing away 18 August, 2014.

Curators Note: Mrs. Norman R Huxley was my grandmother (Tilly) and I had no idea that she was a singer, nor did my mother.

He began training in England at No. 16 OUT (Operational Training Unit) and from there transferred to RAF 115 Squadron 25/02/43. On the 1^st of March, 1943 in a Lancaster bomber on a “gardening” operation (Mine laying), just prior to take off Alf left two letters with a member of the Woman’s Division RCAF to be mailed if he failed to return. On the 9^th of October, 1943 the International Red Cross in Geneva reported that the body of Flt. Sgt. Alfred James Down had washed ashore at the Dutch Island of Ameland the previous June and the remains had been interred at Nes Cemetery.  

Alfred was transferred overseas in August of 1942. He began training in England at No. 16 OUT (Operational Training Unit) on Wellington bombers. From there transferred to RAF 115 Squadron 25/02/43 at RAF Heyford, in Oxforshire postrd on 25/02/43. On the 1^st of March, 1943 in a Lancaster bomber on a “gardening” operation (Mine laying), just prior to take off Alf left two letters with a member of the Woman’s Division RCAF to be mailed if he failed to return.

Date of Death: 02/03/1943 – in Wellington bomber # BK 495 while laying mines the aircraft was shot down in the sea west of the Frisian Islands, Holland. Four of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed. 

A stained glass window at Christ Church, Chatham, ON. honours the names of Alfred Down and Donald Dymond.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead. Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot D. Row 13. Grave 11. Cemetery: AMELAND (NES) GENERAL CEMETERY, Ameland, Frisian Islands, Friesland, Holland.

Memorial – Flight Sergeant Alfred James Down is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Christ Church Chatham – Roll of Honour, Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944, Index of Overseas Deaths, They Shall Not Grow Old, ATNBC, MHSB, CCC-RH, IOSD, CDN(11), TSGNO, IODE(P), VR(P), CVWM(P), CCI-RH, SGPO, CDN-Obit.(wife) Josephine McKeone (20/08/14), T. Huxley (nephew)
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead. Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot D. Row 13. Grave 11. Cemetery: AMELAND (NES) GENERAL CEMETERY, Ameland, Frisian Islands, Friesland, Holland. CDN-Obit (wife Josephine McKeone 20/08/14)

Age	20
Birthplace	Chatham, Ontario

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