Pte 203512 Gordon John Hunter Lowe

• Age: 37
• From: Ormskirk, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Gordon John Hunter Lowe was born in Ormskirk in October 1880. His birth was not recorded until 1881 but a baptism record exists for 17th Oct 1880 at St Peter's, Formby. 

He was the son of James Ireland and Margaret Hunter Lowe who were married in 1868 at Birse, Aberdeen.

On the 1891 census the family are living at Formby Nursery.

The Father James aged 46 is a gardener who was born in Liverpool, his wife Margaret also aged 46 was born in Aberdeen. Their seven children, Mary H. 21 employed as a servant, Ireland H.aged 19 and James H. 17 are both employed as gardeners, Joseph E. aged 15 is a gardener assistant, George H. aged 12, Gordon J.H. aged 8 and Rowland S.aged 7 are all scholars.

The 1901 Census shows that he is living in a cottage on Liverpool Rd, Formby, with his brother James Hunter Lowe and his family and is working as a market gardener. 

The father James died in December 1902 aged 58

Gordon married Sarah Louise Matthews in 1906 in Formby. He had two daughters Emma Jane born in 1907 and Margaret Rose born in 1910. Sadly his wife Sarah died in September 1910 aged 32 leaving Gordon to bring up two young children.

The 1911 Census shows that he is living in the household of his married sister Mary and her husband David Scott along with his widowed mother Margaret and his brother Joseph. Gordon now aged 30 is employed as a Cotton Porter.

He joined the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 203512 and was killed in action on 22nd March 1918 during the opening days of the German Spring offensive, Operation Michael.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the days events:

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

A further indication of the ferocity of the fighting  at this time is shown in the report from the Bootle Times of 10th May 1918 where it reports that John's sister received a letter stating that her brother was missing in action alongside his entire Company.

Gordon's body was never recovered from the Battlefield and his name is now recorded on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

He was reported missing in the Bootle Times 10th May 1918, and the Crosby Herald 11th May 1918.

Liverpool Echo 24th Dec 1918

SAD SUSPENSE OVER

News has been received of the death in action of Private G.J.H. Lowe, aged 36, K.L.R., missing since March 22 last and who died on that date. He was the fifth son of the late Mr James Lowe of Formby Nursery, and Mrs Margaret Lowe.

Another report states "He was a very loyal and willing soldier and was altogether one of the greatest and best, and much missed in the platoon". 

His name is recorded on the War Memorial at St Peter's Church in Formby as John Lowe.
 

Soldiers Effects to sister Mrs M.H.Scott, no pension record found.

Liverpool Echo 24th Dec 1918

Sister Mary lost her son Pte 28099 James Alexander Scott 2/Cheshire Regt, KIA 3rd Oct 1915

His mother died 1920 aged 77 at 41 Eaton Ave, Litherland.

We currently have no further information on Gordon John Hunter Lowe, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.