My grandfather (Jack Downing) enlisted in 1914 with the Oxfordshire and Bucks. His favorite saying was “forward the buffs?” He was wounded at the battle of the Somme @ age 20 and mustered out. Still had shell fragments in his body when died.
Thanks for responding I was probably wrong about the comment”forward the buffs” ,it was a very long time ago. His name was John Stephen Downing. He was a wonderful story teller and was so very interesting to listen to. He was wounded in his bicep calf and back. After the war he was in and out of the hospital for seven years, never a real strong man but always upbeat.
THANKS FOR YOUR WEBSITE VERY INTERESTING!
Marty Clary
alandbower on said:
Dear Marty
The Web site is a work in progress. At this time it’s a site more for collecting everything together, rather than presenting it.
I’ve only found one John Stephen Downing in the 2nd Battalion of the OBLI. All his service records are available online through http://www.ancestry.com. Was he born in Walsall, Staffordshire? It looks if he was transferred to the 20th Division Cycling Corps for a brief time.
The comment may have been “Forward the Bucks”.
Marty Clary on said:
THANKS FOR THE INFO. JOHN S DOWNING WAS BORN ON JUNE 30, 1896
IN WALSALL. I HAVE HIS DISCHARGE PAPERS (CERTIFICATE OF DISCHARGE #18927, PRIVATE OXF & BUCKS.HE ENLISTED SEPT 2,1914,SPENT 2 YRS. AND 313 DAYS WITH THE COLOURS,DISCHARGED AT WARWICK JULY 11, 1917 SIGNATURE OF CO. COLLINS? DISCHARGED IN CONSEQUENCE OF BEING NO LONGER PHYSICALLY FIT FOR WAR SERVICE?
MARKS OR SCARS: GUN SHOT WOUND BACK,RIGHT ARM AND HAND.
AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK!
MARTY
Anyone know anything regarding Arthur Edwin Henley 8/13081, 8th Bn., please? Born in Fyfield, Berkshire, 1895, he died 06 October 1915 Age 20.
I have bits about him, but would appreciate any further details. Thanks Jill
Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The 2/4th Battalion) 
My grandfather (Jack Downing) enlisted in 1914 with the Oxfordshire and Bucks. His favorite saying was “forward the buffs?” He was wounded at the battle of the Somme @ age 20 and mustered out. Still had shell fragments in his body when died.
Hi Marty
The strange thing about your comment s that the Buffs were the Royal East Kent Regiment. Do you know what his proper Christian names were?
I’ve found a John Downing in the Royal East Kent Regiment and a John S. Downing in the OBLI.
Thanks for responding I was probably wrong about the comment”forward the buffs” ,it was a very long time ago. His name was John Stephen Downing. He was a wonderful story teller and was so very interesting to listen to. He was wounded in his bicep calf and back. After the war he was in and out of the hospital for seven years, never a real strong man but always upbeat.
THANKS FOR YOUR WEBSITE VERY INTERESTING!
Marty Clary
Dear Marty
The Web site is a work in progress. At this time it’s a site more for collecting everything together, rather than presenting it.
I’ve only found one John Stephen Downing in the 2nd Battalion of the OBLI. All his service records are available online through http://www.ancestry.com. Was he born in Walsall, Staffordshire? It looks if he was transferred to the 20th Division Cycling Corps for a brief time.
The comment may have been “Forward the Bucks”.
THANKS FOR THE INFO. JOHN S DOWNING WAS BORN ON JUNE 30, 1896
IN WALSALL. I HAVE HIS DISCHARGE PAPERS (CERTIFICATE OF DISCHARGE #18927, PRIVATE OXF & BUCKS.HE ENLISTED SEPT 2,1914,SPENT 2 YRS. AND 313 DAYS WITH THE COLOURS,DISCHARGED AT WARWICK JULY 11, 1917 SIGNATURE OF CO. COLLINS? DISCHARGED IN CONSEQUENCE OF BEING NO LONGER PHYSICALLY FIT FOR WAR SERVICE?
MARKS OR SCARS: GUN SHOT WOUND BACK,RIGHT ARM AND HAND.
AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK!
MARTY
Anyone know anything regarding Arthur Edwin Henley 8/13081, 8th Bn., please? Born in Fyfield, Berkshire, 1895, he died 06 October 1915 Age 20.
I have bits about him, but would appreciate any further details. Thanks Jill