Sgt 300306 William James Lowe

• Age: 27
• From: Rainhill, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 6th October 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

William James Lowe was born on 28th November 1889 in Rainhill and baptised on 01st February 1890 at St Ann's Church, Rainhill. He was the son of William John and his wife Selina (nee Horton). His parents married in 1889 at St Ann's Church, Rainhill. 

He had siblings Harry Horton Lowe b.1891 and Doris Ann b.1893. 

His mother died in 1896. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Market Street, Rainhill, Prescot, Lancashire. His father William James is a widower aged 37 and is a plumber and a sub postmaster. At the time of the Census he is living with three of his children, William James aged 11, Harry Horton aged 9 and Doris Ann aged 7. They also have a housekeeper Annie Lowe aged 29, born 1872 in Rainhill.

His father subsequently married Elizabeth Harrison at St John's Church, Fairfield, Liverpool on 10th December 1901. He gave his address as the Post Office, Rainhill.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Post Office Rainhill, Lancashire. His father William James has now remarried and is aged 47 and is still recorded as a plumber and a sub postmaster, his wife Elizabeth is aged 39 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for nine years and have two children. The eldest three children are from his first marriage. At the time of the Census they have five children, William James aged 21, is employed as a stamper, Harry Horton aged 19 is an apprentice fitter, Doris Ann aged 17 is an assistant in a post office, Gladys Harrison aged 8 and Geoffrey Harrison aged 6 are both at school.   

William married Annie Louise Layhe (born 1882) on 06th May 1915 at Prescot and they had a daughter Selina Edna, who was born on 03rd February 1916. 

William James was originally deployed in the Lancashire Hussars with the service number 250038, he enlisted in Rainhill and he was subsequently transferred to the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Serjeant 300306. He was killed in action on 06th October 1917, during the 3^rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) aged 27 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.   

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

18th Battalion War Diary for 06^th October 1917

Enemy shelled heavily, all calibres and trench mortars on shell holes and Picquet Line. Direct hit on No.10 post. Retaliation shoot by our artillery with good results. 50 O.R. transferred to 17^th (Ser) Battn. King’s (Liverpool Regt).

Killed

300306 Sergt  Lowe W.J.

331166 Pte Aird J

300283 Sergt J Hayes

300409 Cpl Worthington T.E.

300190 Pte Bergin T   

The Liverpool Daily Post of 12th October 1917 reported:

William James is commemorated on the Memorial at St Anne’s Church in Rainhill and on the family headstone within the church grounds.

Soldiers effects and pension to his widow Annie Louise and daughter Selina Edna.

Step-mother Elizabeth died in the September quarter of 1948, aged 77. Her death registered in Prescot. 

Grateful thanks are extended to David Wright who gave permission for us to use the photograph of William in his Lancashire Hussars Sergeant's Uniform. David's grandmother was William's wife and his mother was their daughter Selina Edna. 

David further advises of the immediate family of William James:

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