B74294 Pte Robert Downes enlisted with the 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto on 07 May 1940. His Pay Book lists his father William at 493A Bloor St West and his mother as Margaret, who had died when Robert was 2 ½.) He went to No. 1 CI(R)TC for training at Camp Borden on 23 May 1940. Following training he was ordered on 14 July 1940 to England arriving at 1 CIHU (Canadian Infantry Holding Unit) where he stayed until called to the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders at Aldershot on 2 October 1940. He was transferred back to 1CIRU for the period 3 February 1943 to 16 April, usually done when the numbers of available soldier was over the battalion’s authorized strength. They remained 48th Highlanders, ready for reinforcement.
On 13 June, the battalion was practicing assault landings on steep shelving beaches at Gourock, Scotland. On the 28th they embarked on Troopship Derbyshire bound for the landings at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July. Pte Downes was in all the battles across Sicily. The last major battle occurred at Regalbuto ending on 2 August and on 5 August the 1st Canadian Division, of which the 48th Highlanders were part, declared they had completed their tasks. Over the next few days the battalion encountered isolated pockets of German resistance (The majority of the German battalions had been removed from Sicily to Italy.) It was one of these surprise pockets in which Robert Downes was killed in action.
He was buried in a temporary grave, well marked, and moved to a permanent cemetery at Agira – Plot C, Row E, Grave No. 329. On his gravestone are words placed there by his family “YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE FAR AWAY”
NOK: Sister – Mrs. Margaret Fines, 92 Mortimer Avenue, Toronto – later changed to 261 Chisholm Ave, Toronto
