Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Joseph Dowding, a painter, born 1852 in Christchurch, Hampshire and his wife Jane Dowding (nee Savage, married in the 4th quarter of 1872 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1851 in Shepshed, Leicestershire. Lionel was born in the 1st quarter of 1878 in Shepshed, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Maria Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1872, Walter George, a schoolboy, born 1874 and Joseph Lawrence, born 1879, all his siblings were born in Shepshed, Leicestershire, in April 1881 the family home was at Cambridge Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. In April 1891 Lionel was employed as an errand boy and was residing in the family home at 45, Broad Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, a coach painter, his mother and siblings, Maria, a hosiery trade machinist, Walter, a coach painter, Lawrence, an errand boy, George Alfred, a schoolboy, born 1881, William Bernard, a schoolboy, born 1884, Elizabeth Bona D., born 1886 and Hubert Victor, born 1888, the latter four siblings were all born in Loughborough, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Lionel was absent from the family home at 29, Cattle Market, Loughborough, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a licensed victualler, his mother and siblings, Elizabeth, Hubert and Archie Rudolph, born 1895 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Lionel married Martha Annie Gillett in the 3rd quarter of 1908 in the Northleach, Gloucestershire district, they had two children, Louisa Edith Nancy, born 1910 and Lionel C. J, born 1911, both the children were born in the Easthampstead, Berkshire district. In April 1911 Lionel was serving as a Sergeant with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Wellington Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire.
On Saturday November 21st 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOUGHBOROUGH MAN’S PROMOTION.” – Friday’s “London Gazette” recorded the promotion to be Second Lieutenant of Quartermaster Sergeant Dowding of the Leicestershire Regiment. Lieutenant Dowding is the son of Mr. Dowding, formerly of the Golden Fleece Hotel, Loughborough, and now of the Union Hotel, Hinckley, and his brother is now mace-bearer and town hall keeper under the Loughborough Corporation. He joined the 1st Leicestershires in 1896, and was first with a detachment at St. Helena, joining the Battalion at Capetown in 1897. He went through the Boer War and was in the siege of Ladysmith, and has the South African medal with clasps for Dundee, Talana Hill, Laing’s Nek and Belfast. He also has the King’s medal 1901-02. In 1902 Lieutenant Dowding went to India and returned home with the battalion in 1906. In 1908 he was appointed as instructor at Sandhurst. He was promoted Colour-Sergeant in 1902 and Quartermaster-Sergeant in 1904. While in India Lieutenant Dowding trained the football team which won the Army Cup. He is married and has two children.
The War diary records: 7 Jan-16 - At 11.12am orders were received that the attack would shortly be renewed on both banks. In the meantime enemy’s line was subjected to bombardment from 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. Orders were received to renew the attack at 2.00pm, the Battn moving forward as soon as 53rd SIKHS were seen to leave their trenches. The 92nd PUNJABIS had now been attached to the Bde to support the attack on the left of the Battn. A and B Coy’s advanced in short sharp rushes, supported by C Coy, D Coy being kept close up in reserve under cover. The advance progressed in spite of very strong opposition and D Coy was thrown in, the whole Battn finally carrying out the assault successfully over about 300 yards. Two of the Battn machine guns pushed along the nullah X Y towards X, greatly assisted the advance in first enfilading Turkish trench P and later distributing their fire along trench Q. The Battn was splendidly supported throughout by one section of the 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, the F.O.O. advancing with his telephone immediately in rear of the Battn. The enemy’s trenches were occupied and quickly put in a state of defence, while, from both ends of these trenches a line of entrenchments was extended for some considerable distance, the left flank being well turned back. About 80 prisoners were taken by the Battn, and a large quantity of rifles, ammunition, equipment etc. Many dead and wounded Turks were found in the trenches. The Battn buried 62 enemy dead on its section of trenches. Enemy sniped to some extent during the night from our left flank. The following casualties among officers occurred during this days operations. Officers killed Lt DOWDING and Lt ROYCE. Wounded Capt SUTHERLAND, 2nd Lt BILLINGS, 2nd Lt BELLE and 2nd Lt BUCKINGHAM. Other ranks killed and wounded on operations of the 6th and 7th January totalled 303.