Cyril Lowe

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).

He was a labourer when he enlisted in 1916

430 Ridout Street, London, Ontario, Canada, Enlisted London, Ontario.

142nd Bn Canadian Infantry later posted to the 14th Bn Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) Cyril attested in London, Ontario, on 15 April 1916 giving his date of birth as 4 July 1893. He embarked Canada onboard SS Southland for England, disembarking 11 November. He was drafted to the 14th Bn Canadian Infantry on 30 November and taken on strength the following day, 1 December, when he arrived in France. Cyril was killed in action west of Thelus on 9 April 1917 in the attack on Vimy Ridge. He was buried in Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus, France (grave ref. I.A.12). Buried in the same grave is 841724 Private Lovett, 14th Bn Canadian Infantry, who was also killed on 9 April. CWGC - Nine Elms Military Cemetery (extract): '"NINE ELMS" was the name given by the Army to a group of trees 460 metres East of the Arras-Lens main road, between Thelus and Roclincourt. The cemetery was begun, after the capture of Vimy Ridge, by the burial in what is now Plot I, Row A of 80 men of the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, who fell on the 9th April 1917; and this and the next row were filled by June 1917 ... The rest of the cemetery was made after the Armistice by the concentration of British and French graves from the battlefields of Vimy and Neuville-St. Vaast and from certain small cemeteries [listed].'

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Rest in Peace' Cyril is commemorated on a memorial stained glass window in St John the Evangelist, Strathroy, Canada. Dedication: 'Be thou faithful unto death and I will give to thee the crown of life’ [Revelation 2:10] - 16 names including Cyril Lowe - ‘This window is erected in grateful tribute to the men of this congregation and Sunday School who gave their lives in the Great War for Britain, righteousness and justice' For photograph see: www.strathroymuseum.ca Cyril's plaque, scroll and memorial cross were sent to his mother at 12 Woburn Street, Colwick Street, Nottingham. His medals were sent to his aunt, Minnie Lowe, in Bedford. Canadian websites consulted: www.strathroymuseum.ca canadiangreatwarproject.com www.veterans.gc.ca.