Downs, John P

Description

Includes newspaper cuttings, letters, photographs and various papers.


a) 19 letters, late 1944-May 1945, from various locations in France and Belgium including Jodoigne (in Brabant) to J. P. Downs ‘Mon cher John’ or ‘Johnny’, signed in various ways including ‘votre amie belge, Denise Mayeur', most in French. She frequently writes from her home in Gompel, 33 rue St Medard. She includes good wishes from her parents, and frequently asks for more letters in return. Later letters are enthusiastic about the coming of peace and some include small sprigs of flowers.


Miscellaneous cards and scraps from Denise and others, and one empty envelope.


Copy of an explanatory letter from John Downs, May 9th 1997, with information on his war career and the correspondence with Denise


b) Four further letters from Denise as in a) above 3 October 1944-28 December 1945. Small Christmas card from her to John December 1944. Four letters from ‘Armande’ (Armande Vos) in Jodoigne 4 October 1945-18 December 1946. Letter from G. Koopman of Heer, Maastricht, 21 September 1945, because John had sent him the address of his (John’s) cousin Miss Lucas and they had corresponded. ‘It is not common for me to write to a girl.’


Pencilled poem headed ‘Gerald Gould’.


Small fabric armorial badge.


Booklet ‘The Germany of 1 Corps District in legend and battle’ with five folding maps showing their area of operations. Printing and Stationery Service, 1 Corps District, 1946.


c) Four letters between John Downs and ‘Bob’, 1943, 1944 and1945 (one lacking first sheet).

Testimonial for John Downs for employment in civilian life from his commanding officer, 26 November 1946


Miscellaneous military ephemera - rail tickets etc.


Copy of instructions under the National Service Acts of 1939 and 1941 for those attending the medical exam prior to entering National Service.


Copy of official thanks of the Houses of Parliament to HM Forces on the occasion of victory in North Africa.


Theatre programme from Bad Godesberg, October 15, 1945 and programme of performance by Aachen Symphony Orchestra (undated).


Christmas card from John, Christmas 1944, unsent.


Two letters, 2 June 1943 and 15 June 1943, from Edith Cabuche, mother of a friend of John Downs (Alan) who had died recently. Published records show he died in England and the letters are addressed to John in Folkestone. In the first letter she asks John to return his cap badge if at all possible, and the second acknowledges its receipt and enclosed some kind of gift, again unspecified.


Two letters from Gerry Koopman, ‘Father’ Koopman and Mother Koopman and Janke (Gerry’s sister), 1945.


Letter to John from Madame Mayeur, 14 June 1945.


Fabric badge of 38th Welsh Inf. Division, WWI and WWII, on piece of paper saying ‘see notes with letter’ but no longer accompanying the letter specified. Annotated ‘worn by Mr Downs junior. Issued 1942, see letter 18/8/92’.


Miscellaneous newspapers and theatre programmes 1945 and 1946.

Downloads

Biography or history

Downs, John P., (1923-2015), Gunner, 86th Anti-Tank Regiment, R. A. (Royal Artillery), serving in Normandy and North-West Europe, 1944-1945, and in Germany, 1945. He travelled across Europe from the Normandy landings through Belgium and Holland. Downs may have been billeted with Denise Mayeur and her family in Belgium. Downs was involved with the liberation of the Dutch town 's-Hertogenbosch in autumn 1944. In 1946-47 he served in Bad Driberg with the Intelligence Corps.

Provenance

Original accession received: 1991-1995. The papers were placed in the Collection by J. P. Downs. See Research Correspondence File. A second accession was received in September 2017 from P. Downs his son.

Access and usage

Reproduction

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