Fallen Soldiers
William James LOWE
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Regiment
Rank / Number
Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
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Lancashire Hussars
Sergeant 300306
King's Liverpool Regiment
not known
28th November 1889
6th October 1917 aged 27
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William Lowe pictured with his mother and father and siblings
William James Lowe was born in the Old Post Office, next to the Victoria Hotel, on 28th November 1889 to William John Lowe and Selina Lowe (nee Horton). He was baptised on 1st February 1890 in St Ann’s Church. Selina died in 1896, when he was seven years old.
He continued to live in the family home and Post office until his marriage on 6th May 1915. His marriage certificate states:-
William James Lowe, 25, Sergeant Lancs Hussars of Rainhill Post Office (Father, William John Lowe, Post Master) Married
Annie Louisa Layhe of The Queen’s Arms, Cheadle (Father William Layhe, Publican)
In the presence of: - William Layhe, Arthur Henry Layhe and Doris Ann Lowe.
Their daughter, Selina was born in the spring of 1916.
Annie Louisa died in September 1977 in Blackpool.
Sometime in the early part of the 1900’s, William James joined the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, a Territorial Unit. He served as Sergeant 339.
By the time war broke out in 1914, he was already a Sergeant and was quickly mobilised and moved to Kent. Sgt. Lowe probably served with “D” Squadron of this regiment, and went to France with his unit on 9th November 1915, attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division before the three squadron’s (”B”,”C” and “D”) re-combined in May 1916.
Sergeant Lowe was also numbered 250038 with the Yeomanry. This number was allocated when the Territorial Force was renumbered in March 1917.
In July 1917, the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for training as infantry which was completed by September.
On 24th September 1917, a draft of 16 officers and 290 men of the Lancashire Hussars, including Sgt. Lowe were posted to 18th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool in the Torreken Farm area of Wytshaete. They were amalgamated into the 18th Battalion which was then renamed the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. At this time, the 18th Battalion was heavily involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.
The War Diary of his Battalion for 6th October 1917 reads, “The enemy shelled heavily, all calibres and trench mortars, on Shell Holes and Picquet Line. Direct hit on N.10 post. Retaliation shoot by our Artillery with good results.”
Sergeant William James Lowe – 300306, The Kings Liverpool Regiment, 18th Battalion was 'killed in action' on 6th October 1917, aged 27. He has no known grave and he is remembered on the stone walls of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium which makes up the Memorial to the Missing.
Medal Entitlement:-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
The Tyne Cot memorial wall where Sergeant William Lowe's name is inscribed in the Kings Liverpool Regiment section.
William James Lowe is remembered on the Lowe family gravestone in St. Ann's Churchyard, Rainhill.
The inscription reads "Also of Sergt. William James Lowe, Lanc. Hussars Yeomanry, son of the above who fell in action on Messines Ridge, October 8 1917 aged 27 years