Cyril was the youngest son of Ellesley Robert and Susan Lowe (née Pemment).
Ellesley Robert (CWGC Ellisley) was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, in 1858 (J/F/M Bedford), the son of William and Sarah Lowe. In 1871 he was living with his parents and siblings, including his sister Minnie (b. abt 1860), at St Grove Place Bedford. By 1881 Ellesley, a printer compositor, was a boarder at 8 Lorne Grove, Nottingham, in the household of John and Maria Gray. Susan Pemment was born in Doncaster in 1858 (J/A/S Doncaster).
Ellesley and Susan were married in 1883 (J/F/M Nottingham) and had eight children of whom only three were living in 1911. Five children, who were all born in Nottingham, have been identified on the census between 1891 and 1911: Ernest William birth registered 1884 (J/F/M), Edith birth registered 1885 (J/F/M), Emma b. 1886 (O/N/D), Edward John birth registered 1889 (J/F/M) and Cyril probably b. 1894 (J/A/S) although on enlisting in April 1916 Cyril gave his date of birth as 4 July 1893.
In 1891 Ellesley and Susan (31) were living on Mellon Terrace, Nottingham, with their four children Ernest (7), Edith (6), Emma (4) and Edward (2). Also in the household was a boarder, Wiliam Wagstaff, a lace machine maker.
Ellesley died in 1899 (J/F/M Bedford).
In 1901 Ellesley's widow Susan, a lace clipper, was living at 39 Red Lion Street, Nottingham with two of her sons, Edward and Cyril (6). Ernest, Edith and Emma have not yet been traced on the census.
By 1911 Susan, a lace clipper and scalloper, was living alone in St John's Church Yard, Red Lion Street. Only three of her children were still living. Ernest William, Edith and Emma have not yet been traced after 1891 nor Edward after 1901 although there is a record of the death of an Edith Lowe (b. 1885) in 1900 (J/F/M Nottingham). However, Cyril may have been taken into care as on 21 July 1904 he left Liverpool for Canada onboard SS Southwark with a party of 'Barnardo children', arriving in Quebec City on 31 July for onward journey to Toronto.
Cyril was living at 430 Ridout Street, London, Ontario, when he enlisted in April 1916. He named his mother Susan of 72 Red Lion Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin, and also his maternal aunt, Minnie Lowe, his father's sister, of 6 Featherstone Buildings, Bedford.
In a Will made in March 1917, replacing one made in September 1916, Cyril named his aunt, Minnie Lowe, as his beneficiary or, in the event of her death, to Edith S Lowe, spinster, of 89 Wellington Street, Bedford. Edith Lowe's relationship to Cyril was not given. Cyril's medals were sent to his aunt Minnie at 6 Featherstone Buildings, while the plaque, scroll and memorial cross were sent to his mother at 12 Woburn Street, Colwick Street, Nottingham.
Susan died in 1918 (O/N/D Nottingham).