Francis Downes was born on Friday 14 June 1912 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

Francis married Kathleen Mary Bywater in 1934 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

He had the following children from his marriage to Kathleen Mary Bywater:

- Robert M. Downes	born in 1935 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.
- Ian C. Downes	born in 1936 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.
- Richard G. Downes	born in 1939 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.

Details of Francis's occupation are not known.