J.A.J. DOWN

Joseph Arthur John Down was born at Okehampton 1919.

His parents, Arthur Launder Down (1877-1961) and Marie Winifred Down (1894-1952) moved to 3, Meavy Villas, Yelverton sometime before 1938. Joseph Down joined the Royal Army Medical Corp (Private No 7359877) at the outbreak of war and soon found himself in Greece at 26 General Hospital situated at Kephissia near Athens. During the active phase of the Greek Campaign, 26 General Hospital was the only British Hospital established. That it was able to expand with rapidity to more than double its normal capacity, and so deal with the large number of casualties which it did, was due to the untiring efforts of the Commanding Officer, Colonel C Popham. He played an important part in making possible the evacuation of a large number of wounded who might otherwise have been left as POW.

Joseph was not so lucky. He died on 16 March 1941. He is buried at the Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens. He is also commemorated on the Buckland War Memorial, Crapstone and in St Paul’s Church, Yelverton.