243549 Rfmn. Joseph George Dowden British Army 7th Btn. King Royal Rifle Corps from:8 Cumberland St, Westminster, London (d.18th Jul 1916) Joseph Dowden was born about 1889 in Marylebone London, a grocers assistant when he was 28 years old, he enlisted in the Army in 1914. He was married to Lilian who was 23 and pregnant with his second child, they already had a 4 year old son Edward and were living at 8 Cumberland St, Westminster. On the 21st of August 1914 George arrived at the Rifle Depot Winchester to begin training and was posted on strength of the 7th KRRC serving in C Coy on 25th Aug 1914. 13 days later tragedy struck. Sadly on 7th Sept 1914 Lily died as a result of giving birth. Her death is attributed to her pregnancy and puerperal septicemia. George was given leave to bury his wife and make arrangements for his children. From available records the children were cared for by the Children's Aid Committee from this period. George went absent from duty on the 31st Dec 1914 returning to the Battalion 15 days later on the 14th Jan 1915 and was fined 15 days pay. On the 24th Jan 1915 George again went absent without leave and was declared a deserter. He was struck off strength of the Regiment on 16th Feb 1915 following a Court of Inquiry carried out at Hindhead presided over by Capt. HM Gosling and 2nd Lt's. N B Fuller and J H Roe after evidence was heard from 1542 L/Sjt Pickup 7th KRRC. Despite all that had occurred George voluntarily returned to the Battalion on 2nd Mar 1915 and following a disciplinary hearing was awarded 28 days field punishment No. 2a which would possibly have been forced hard labour and secured when not working to prevent further escape. On the 19th May 1915 he embarked for France with his Battalion. After a period of training in trench warfare 7th Btn KRRC moved into the front-line trenches east of Ypres. He is recorded as being admitted to 16 General Hospital on 27th Jul 1915 with a distal radius fracture of his left arm. After a period of recovery in Rouen and light duties in 14th Division base area he returned to C Coy on 4th Sept 1915. On the 29th Sept 1915 he was injured again and was admitted to the 13th and then the 25th General Hospital for treatment. After a further period of convalescence and light duties he returned to his Battalion on 25th Feb 1916. On 1st Jul 1916 he was taken to No.30 Casualty Clearing Station with a serious gunshot wound. He died following treatment on 19th Jul 1916. There are several documents available showing that his children were still being cared for under the Children's Aid Committee the last known address for his son Edward being 22 East Stratton, Micheldelver, Winchester where on 29th Nov 1917 hiss personnel effects were sent. They consisted of 1 watch, 1 disc, 2 photographs a photograph case and a birth certificate.
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