That's a quote from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
I was just listening to Richard Glover's radio programme and apparently in honour of Remembrance Day yesterday he featured the reading of a letter from a World War One serviceman James "Jim" Downey which has only recently been opened.
The man's family could not stand to open the letter until now because he died Palestine one week after writing the letter. The letter was dated 23/4/1918.
Here's a link to the text of the letter.
But there are a few problems identifying Jim Downey.
Here's the text of the comment I have made on the ABC website for Richard Glover's programme. The comment has not yet appeared on the website, as comments are moderated.
This is a very interesting letter. Poignant of course.
However some of the biographical details may need further research.
All World War One Australian military service records are digitised and available on the National Archives of Australia website.
I've just done a check for James Downey in World War One. None of the Downey surnames with James as first or second names died in WWI.
I have also checked the Australian War Memorial website's Roll of Honour.
Lachlan James Downey was a lieutenant in the Light Horse, but he did not die until 16 October 1918.
All of the other people named Downey did not die within one week or even a couple of weeks of 28/04/1918
whether they had a "James" in their name or not.Further research required.
See Roll of Honour here.
Now, Jim Downey could have been serving with another nation's forces, however his letter is laced with Australianisms of the period.
I wonder who he really is?
Let's check the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records.
I've just listened to the interview with Kyle Wilkinson, and he said that his great uncle died of wounds on 1 May 1918.
http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?menuid=14
Here's the search process,
Search for: Casualty,
surname: Downey
Initials: [ I left this blank ]
War: First World War
Year of Death: From 1918 to 1918
Force: Army
Nationality: Unknown
Then I hit search, and here are the results.
There are 28 records with the name of Downey, but none died on 01 May 1918.
I have also searched the Australian War Memorial's section on Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files for "Downey" and there are six results, none died on 01 May 1918, nor are consistent with a 'Jim" Downey.
How mysterious.
ADDED:
Possible solution. Instead of the spelling "Downey" given on the ABC website, maybe his surname had the spelling "Downie".
I've searched for "Downie" at the CWGC and come up with this relevant result:
| Name: | DOWNIE, JAMES |
|---|---|
| Initials: | J |
| Nationality: | New Zealand |
| Rank: | Trooper |
| Regiment/Service: | Canterbury Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F. |
| Date of Death: | 01/05/1918 |
| Service No: | 17393 |
| Casualty Type: | Commonwealth War Dead |
| Grave/Memorial Reference: | J. 5. |
| Cemetery: |
JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel
|
So, he may have been serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
ADDED 14 Nov 2008:
The moderator of comments on Richard Glover's website has seen fit to permit three comments, although not mine as shown above - perhaps believing I'm some kind of crank. So I've left another comment today (awaiting moderation) giving what I believe to the the correct identity of the late Jim Downie.
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