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Daniel William (Dan) Downey (1894–1956)

This article was published:

Downey, Daniel William Alexander (Dan) (1894-1956) builders’ labourer and trade union official 

Birth: 1894 at West Birchip, Victoria, son of native-born parents William Daniel Downey (1852-1932), labourer, and Florence Jane Munro (1860-1947). Marriage: 2 December 1916 at St Canice’s Church, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, to Elsie May Atkinson (1895-1963). They had one daughter and two sons. Death: 15 April 1956 at Naremburn, NSW. Religion: Catholic. 

  • During his youth his parents moved the family to Sydney.
  • Dan was working as a gear hand, builder’s labourer, and living at Paddington when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 30 October 1916. While serving in France as a driver with the 15th Field Company Engineers he was wounded in action (gas poisoning) on 1 September 1918. He returned to Australia in January 1919 and was discharged medically unfit on 11 April 1919. His war injuries caused frequent hospitalisation late in life.
  • Financial member of the Builders Laborers Federation (BLF) for 45 years, occupying positions of State treasurer and vice-president; president of the NSW branch for almost 40 years.
  • Also served as Federal President BLF and president NSW Building Trades Group.
  • One-time member Australian Labor Party State central executive.

Sources
Builders’ Labourers’ Journal
, June 1956.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Downey, Daniel William (Dan) (1894–1956)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/downey-daniel-william-dan-33482/text41866, accessed 12 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1894
Birchip, Victoria, Australia

Death

15 April, 1956 (aged ~ 62)
Naremburn, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
Military Service
Key Organisations
Political Activism