One of our friends on Facebook asked us whether we had any information on a Joseph Downing, of the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. The information he had is as follows:

Private Joseph downing 1st battalion south staffs. No 9035 I think he joined roundabout 1912 before. Going to France in 1914 with the BEF I believe he served in South Africa. He was wounded in 1916 not sure where though. Thanks

A quick search through Freebmd reveals the only likely candidate in terms of age as a Joseph Langley Downing, whose birth was registered in Wolverhampton in March 1892. This enables us to find his baptism at Wednesfield St Thomas’ Church on 10 January 1892. His parents are listed as Joseph and Maria Jane Downing, the former being a farmer, of Lichfield Road. On the 1901 census, the family are listed at 104 Lichfield Road, Wednesfield. Joseph L. Downing, aged 9, is together with his brothers George and Ernest, and his sister Mary.

According to Downing’s medal card, he left for France with the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment on 4 October 1914. He was discharged from the Army due to wounds or sickness on 7 April 1917, and became eligible for a Silver War Badge (SWB). Silver War Badges were authorised by King George V in September 1916 to honour all military personnel who had served at during the War, and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness. As well as honouring these individuals, the SWB also served as a symbol that the wearer had served his country and was not simply shirking their duty. Wearers of the SWB should not, therefore, have received white feathers, for example.

Downing’s death was registered in Wolverhampton in June 1949. He appears to have never married, as no likely records were found.