NAME George DOWNES
BORN Abt. 1893
DIED Possibly 4 March 1966 at Gosford
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 15345
UNIT 1st Div Sig. Coy
ENLISTED Sydney 2 May 1916
DISCHARGED Sydney 19 July 1919

unable to pay men for labour

George Downes applied for his Loan 17 December 1919. Approval was granted on 14 January 1920.  His block consisted of 40 acres, a CP 14/13 that was in the County of Northumberland, Parish of Popran, Land District of Gosford.  His address was Mangrove Mountain, Gosford and he intended growing grapes.[1]

In February, 1920, he asked that fertiliser he had requested ‘hurry along as soon as possible as plants are suffering for want of same and he was unable to pay men for labour’.[2] Sometime around November 1921, he stated that he was forced to sell his holding ‘due to continued illness’. [3] It should be noted that Downes had been wounded in action, although returned to his division.

The property was sold to Thomas Best who was in possession by 16 February 1921.[4]

By 7 April 1922, Downes had discharged his liability in full.[5]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6903 No. 3067],  Application for loan 17 December 1919.

[2] Ibid,  George Downs to ????,   13 February 1920.

[3] Ibid, George Downs to RSS Brnach November 1921.

[4] Ibid, Report Abt. 16 February 1921?

[5] Ibid, Director AA Watson the District Surveyor 20 April 1922.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6903 No. 3067],  George Downes.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (George Downes) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3519813&I=1&SE=1