Cyril Lowth MM

Cyril Lowth MM

National Bank of Australasia - Record of War Service
Personal Information
Date of Birth	30 Sep 1895
Place of Birth	Parkgate, Yorkshire, England
Death	10 Aug 1980, aged 84
Place of Death	Como, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 5 months
Description	5'7¼" (1.71m) tall ; 145lbs 65.771 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Bank clerk
Religion	Methodist
Address	Station street, East Cannington
Next of Kin	Father , Mr William Adam Lowth
Military Information
Reg Number	4367
Date of Enlistment	15 Mar 1915
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	1st Divisional Ammunition Column, 5th Reinforcement, transferred to 3rd Field Artillery Brigade.
Date of Embarkation	26 Apr 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A20 Hororata
Date of Return	4 Jun 1919 ‒ 16 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Bremen Disembarked 18 Jul 1919
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Canning Honour Roll National Bank of Australasia
Medals	Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

At time of enlistment was a Bombardier in Artillery militia unit. Cyril had emigrated to Australia through Liverpool on the SS Belgic, arriving in Fremantle on 22 Nov 1912 with his mother and four siblings, described on the ship's manifest as a scholar, aged 16.

War Service

Cyril entered camp on 15 Mar 1915, and on 20 Apr 1915 he was allocated to the 5th reinforcement draft for the Divisional Ammunition Column, and travelled with them to Egypt. On 6 Sep 1915 Cyril was transferred to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade and posted to the 8th Battery at Gallipoli on 22 Nov 1915. Along with his unit he returned to Alexandria on 26 Dec 1915 aboard HMT Caledonia.

On 23 Mar 1916 Cyril was one of the first Australians to embark in Alexandria for Marseilles in France, arriving there on 29 Mar 1916. In France on 20 Nov 1916 he was ill enough to require treatment from the 14th Casualty Clearing Station, and then to be conveyed on Ambulance Train No.24 to the 5th General Hospital on 24 Nov 1916, rejoining his battery on 7 Dec 1916.

On 28 Jun 1917 he was recommended for the Military Medal (Awarded 16 Aug 1917), and on 26 Sep 1917 he was granted leave in the UK. Returning to Belgium on 10 Oct 1917, on 22 Nov 1917 Cyril was promoted to Temporary Bombardier.

On 4 Jan 1918 Cyril was detached to the 2nd Army Signals School, and promoted Bombardier on 26 Jan 1918. He rejoined his battery on 17 Feb 1918, before being granted leave in Paris from 6 - 12 Mar 1918. Soon after his return Cyril was promoted Temporary Sergeant on 17 Mar 1918. He enjoyed another leave in the UK from 18 Oct - 1 Nov 1918 and had his rank of Sergeant confirmed on 17 Mar 1919. Cyril was discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Sep 1919.

Award Comment

Military Medal

Text of recommendation not yet found.

Post War

Resumed employment with the National Bank of Australasia on 26 Aug 1919.

Wife - Marriage possibly in NSW - Esther Florence, who died 25 Aug 1983, aged 87 in Como.

Electoral Roll entries: 1930 - 1931 at 'Sassafras" Homer street, Earlwood, NSW, bank official; 1933 at 57 Earlwood avenue, Earlwood, NSW (with Esther Florence); 1943 at 22 Blakesley street, Chatswood, NSW, bank manager, 1949 National Bank Kulin, bank manager; 1954 at 64 Elizabeth street, North Perth; 1962 - 1977 at 7 Amery street, South Perth, retired; In 1980 Esther still at 7 Amery street, while Cyril is at 29 Gardner street, South Perth.