Major Downes

Major Francis Downes, (10 February 1834 – 15 October 1923) was a British army officer, commandant of colonial forces in South Australia.

Downes was the son of William Downes, of Dedham, Essex, England. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; entered the Royal Artillery in 1852, became lieut.-colonel in 1877, colonel in 1882, and major-general (retired) in 1884. He served in the Crimean Campaign 1855 (medal with clasps and Turkish medal); was Instructor in Fortifications at the Royal Military College in 1858-9; commanded Royal Artillery at Mauritius in 1863-5, and at St. Helena in 1869–71; was for five years Instructor to the Artillery School for Militia and Volunteer Officers; and subsequently held the position of Commandant of the South Australian Military Forces from 1877 to 1885, being a Member of the Royal Commission on Defences in 1881, and Secretary of Defence for Victoria from 1885 to 1888. In March of the latter year, he was reappointed Commandant of the South Australian Military Forces. Major-General Downes was created C.M.G. in 1885.

Downes died in Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 15 October 1923; he was buried with military honours in the Church of England portion of the Brighton cemetery. Downes had married Helen Maria, née Chamberlain at Catton, Norwich, on 9 June 1858, she died on 21 January 1903 aged 62. They had a daughter and four sons, including Rupert Downes who became major-general and director-general of medical services of the Australian Military Forces.