Pte 62009 John Bradshaw Lowe

• Age: 27
• From: Horncastle Lincs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• Died Friday 15th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Terlincthun Brit Cem Wilmille
  Panel Ref: XI.A.10

John Bradshaw (Jack) Lowe was born in the third quarter of 1891 in the Horncastle district of Lincolnshire and was baptised, Jack, on 8th August 1891. He was the son of John Bradshaw Lowe and his wife Rebecca (nee Smith) who married in December 1890. His father is described as a General Labourer and the family are living at 10 Hopton Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 4 Water Mill Road, Horncastle. Jack is 9 years of age the eldest of 6 children of John and Rebecca. His father John is described as a Higgler ( a travelling merchant) born in Horncastle  in 1872, whilst his mother was also born in Horncastle in 1872. Jack's siblings, all born in Hornchurch are recorded as; Lily b.1893, Edith b.1895, Ernest b.1896, Harold b.1898 and Cyril b.1900. 

The 1911 Census finds the family have moved to 2 Dorecote Alley, Horncastle. Jack is now 19 years of age and listed as a general wood dealer. His parents are present in the household as are his siblings, Lillie, Edith, Ernest, Harold. Cyril and new additions: Annie b. 1892, Ivy b.1904, Gertrude b.1907, Doris b.1909 and Olive b.1911. His parents indicate that they have been married for 20 years and have had 12 children one of whom has died.   

Jack was the husband of Milly Lowe (nee Hartshorne), of 73 Allen St, Hucknall, Notts. They had one child, a daughter Mary born in 1917.

He enlisted in Licoln and served originally as Private 22357 of the Sherwood Foresters Notts & Derby Regiment and, following a transfer, was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 62009 when he died of influenza at the Second Australian General Hospital on the 15th November 1918 aged 27, four days after the Armistice.

He now rests at Terlincthun British Cemetery, France.

The first rest camps for Commonwealth forces were established near Terlincthun in August 1914 and during the whole of the First World War, Boulogne and Wimereux housed numerous hospitals and other medical establishments.

The cemetery at Terlincthun was begun in June 1918 when the space available for service burials in the civil cemeteries of Boulogne and Wimereux was exhausted. It was used chiefly for burials from the base hospitals, but Plot IV Row C contains the graves of 46 RAF personnel killed at Marquise in September 1918 in a bombing raid by German aircraft.

In July 1920, the cemetery contained more than 3,300 burials, but for many years Terlincthun remained an 'open' cemetery and graves continued to be brought into it from isolated sites and other burials grounds throughout France where maintenance could not be assured.

During the Second World War, there was heavy fighting in the area in 1940. Wimille was devastated when, from 22 - 25 May, the garrison at Boulogne fought a spirited delaying action covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. There was some fighting in Wimille again in 1944. The cemetery suffered considerable damage both from the shelling in 1940 and during the German occupation.

The cemetery now contains 4,378 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and more than 200 war graves of other nationalities, most of them German. Second World War burials number 149.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

His death was reported in the Horncastle News on 30th November 1918

"Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Lowe, Cagthorpe, Horncastle, died of influenza at Second Australian General Hospital, France, leaves wife + 1' Jack was the son of John Bradshaw and Rebecca Lowe. He was living and working in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1916 when he married Milly Hartshorne. They had a daughter Mary (born in 1917). He enlisted with the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, but was transferred to the Liverpool Regiment. He died of influenza at the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne, France".

His wife Milly was his sole legatee and received a pension and War Gratuity. 

Prior to Jack's death his father was fined with the details covered in the Boston Guardian on 20th July 1918

John Bradshaw Lowe, dealer, Horncastle, was summoned for not keeping a dog under control at Horncastle on July 3rd.

PC Dennison said he saw a crossbred shepherd dog straying in South Street at 11 o'clock at night. Defendant, who admitted the offence, was fined 5s.  

Jack is commemorated on the following Memorial:

Horncastle Hospital War Memorial

St Mary's Church, Horncastle. 

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