My grandparents were living in Athlone, Patrick Downey was my grandfather. He was called up. He was in the Gallipoli campaign. I have a photograph of his medals. The medals are in Australia. They landed on 7th Aug 1915. 5th Battalion of Royal Irish fusileers. Telegram from before Christmas 1915, saying his was missing, presumed dead. Then she received a later one to say he had been found. He was transferred to 3rd Reserve Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers Armagh Depot. I have a photo of his medals. My brother has the medals in New Zealand. I think one of the medals is related to the Connaught Rangers. He returned and lived in Athlone. He continued in service. He was finally discharged and got a job in a munitions factory. He was encouraged to go to England by the army. I think they didn't want to go. He was involved with the volunteers and I think they might have wanted him out of the way. I did all the research. I had one conversation with my father about him. In the last few years, I've looked into my grandfather's life and career. He was in the Boer War, India, Burma, He was killed in Greenwich in 1948 by a speeding police car. I also have a photograph of him taken in 1915. My grandfather's brother was killed in Salonica in 1917, John Downey, serving with 2nd (Garrison) Battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment). My grandfather volunteered at the age of 66 for WW2!
