A Rotherham local interest Great War 'Zillebeeke Lake 1917 Casualty' and Fire Chief's long service medal group of 4: Chief Superintendent Joseph Downing, Rotherham Fire Brigade, late Army Service Corps and Rotherham Borough Police

- 1914-15 Star (M1-08487 Pte. J. Downing. A.S.C.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (M1-08487 Sgt. J. Downing. A.S.C.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (M1-08487 Sgt. J. Downing. A.S.C.)
- Assoc'n of Professional Fire Brigade's Officers 20 Year Long Service Medal (Supt. J. Downing. 1923.)

Medals Verification: All 4 x medals confirmed as entitled per the respective cited below medal rolls and newspaper source:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2876 shows disembarked France 13/12/1914 to Army Reserve Cl Z 07/02/1919
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1965. Shows rank Sergeant
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1965. Shows rank Sergeant
- Assoc'n of Professional Fire Brigade's Officers 20 Year Long Service Medal: Ref quoted newspaper 

The 'Eckington, Woodhouse and Staveley Express' newspaper issue of, 13 December 1930, contained the below following article

Quote,

BRIGADE CHANGE

Supt, Downing Retires

FIRE CHIEF

Superintendent. Joseph Downing, of the Rotherham Corporation Fire Brigade, will retire from the Rotherham Borough Police Force on Thursday next, Dec, 18th.

Mr. Downing, joined the force on Dec. 16th. 1900, when 21 years of age. Before that he had worked as a locomotive engine fireman on the Midland Railway at Nottingham. His father, whose Christian name is also Joseph, was a locomotive driver, and he is now living in retirement.

The first few years in the Rotherham force were spent by Mr. Downing as a police constable on street duty, and he was transferred to the fire brigade station in 1903. Before that time the fire brigade was manned by civilian volunteers. The Corporation took it over, and properly trained horses and equipment were obtained. The horses were used at a fire for the first time when  there was an outbreak at the works of Messrs. J. J. Habershon and Sons. In later years motor fire engines were provided and the use of horses was dispensed with.

In 1905, Mr. Downing was appointed engineer, still with the rank of constable. At the outbreak of the Great War he was the first volunteer to leave the force for war service, together with Supt. Cade, now of Bristol. He was in the Army Service  Mechanical Transport attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery. He went to Belgium in 1914, and was for four years and six months on the Western front. He had had experience of military training with the Mansfield Company of the 4th Notts and Derby Volunteers in 1894-97. He was wounded at Zillebeeke Lake in Oct, 1917.

On returning from war service he was made a sergeant. In Nov., 1919, he was appointed superintendent, and so has held the position for eleven years.

Mr. Downing is a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers and Professional Fire Brigade Officers, and he holds the long service medal of the Professional Institute and also of the National Fire Brigade Association.

When asked how he intended to spend his retirement, Mr. Downing said he would live in Rotherham. He has, in fact, already taken a house in Dryden Road, Herringthorpe Estate. He remarked that when he had leisure he would perhaps look up references to the poet Dryden and see "what he has to say for himself."

It will interest Mr. Downing and others to be told that Dryden wrote "We by our sufferings learn to prize our bliss." The poet also described the Great Fire of London in his poem "Annus Mirabilis" (Wonderful Year).

Unquote,

The medals sometime framed and mounted on a card strip, the reverse of ribands soiled

Condition: GVF 

Code: 26180