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Robert John Lowe

Private, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal (3) Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 to 6104 Pte. J. Lowe. Rifle Bde.

John Lowe was born in Little Thetford, a village just on the outskirts of Ely in Cambridgeshire on 7 November 1878 the son of George Low(e), an Agricultural labourer, and his wife Rebecca, born Creek.

According to the 1881 England census, a 2 year old John (the monicker he appears to have preferred) was at home at 57 Burying Lane, Thetford along with his parents and siblings Mary Ann (13), William (11) and Harry Seber (9). James Creek, John’s 62 year old maternal grandfather and also an Agricultural Labourer also lived with the family.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 England census the family were living at Field Gate in Thetford – the roles had been reversed in that James Creek was now deemed the head of the family with George and Rebecca Lowe in residence along with their children – Robert, now 12 and already at work as an Agricultural Labourer, with 6 year old George and James (4).

having decided on a career in uniform at some point an 18 year and 9 month old Lowe completed the Short Service Attestation forms (3 years with the Colours and 9 years with the Reserve) at Pontefract on 11 August 1898. A Carter by occupation he claimed Militia service with the 3rd York & Lancaster Regiment. He was, physically, 5 feet 5 ¾ inches in height and had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair. He weighed in at 139 lbs and had a mole on his forehead and a scar on his left foot by way of distinguishing marks about his person.

Having been passed as Fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 6104 and the rank of Private with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Initially posted to the Depot as Gosport he was admitted to hospital there on 3 October 1898 with a sore throat. After 8 days he was discharged to duty on 10 October and posted to the 1st Battalion on 7 January 1899. He was admitted to hospital at Parkhurst seven days later, on 14 January, with soft chancre - a painless genital ulcer most commonly formed during the primary stage of syphilis. This meant a 62 day stay in the hospital before being posted to the Curragh (in Ireland) on 5 December 1899.

Eventually, after 1 year 205 days at Home he boarded the S.S. Sunda, the ship that was to take him to South Africa on 4 March 1900, taking to the field on his arrival at the port of Durban in Natal on 8 April 1900. By the time Lowe arrived in the country the Anglo Boer War had been raging for more than 5 months and, after the initial reverses suffered by the Imperial Forces, a massive influx of men, arms and ammunition had ensured that the Boer Commandos who had enjoyed initial supremacy, were now firmly on the back foot. His comrades in the 1st Battalion had already endured the battles in Buller’s cumbersome march to the relief of Ladysmith before he joined their ranks in time for the action at Laing’s Nek – the last before the Boers were driven out of Natal.

Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State was about to be entered and Pretoria, Paul Kruger’s capital in the Transvaal was to follow in June 1900. The British juggernaut was rolling the Boers back into their strongholds but, instead of occasioning the surrender of the Boer forces, phase two, or the guerrilla phase of the war would shortly be embarked on where no more pitched battles would be fought. Instead the Boers would break up into small, highly mobile hit and run type outfits – catching the British on the hop as they lumbered ploddingly along the lines of communication.


Grootvlei where Oceana Mine was situated is circle in black on this contempery map

On Boxing Day, 26 December 1900, the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade found themselves in the south-eastern Transvaal where, as was by now the norm, pockets of Boer fighters were harassing troop movements, convoys and patrols in the area. Based at the Oceana Mine near Grootvlei in the district around Greylingstad, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Colville, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, proceeded on a farm-clearing expedition, with a small column consisting of six companies of the 1st Battalion, a squadron of the 13th Hussars, four guns of 63 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, as well as one ‘pom-pom’. Colville left ‘F’ Company under the command of Captain Radclyffe, as well as some artillerymen, to guard the baggage wagons based at the mine. The column moved out in the direction of Roddewal, where after five miles they became involved in a small skirmish at the first of the target farms.

During the skirmish a large party of approximately 450 Boers were spotted heading towards the Oceana Mine. A signal was sent to Captain Radclyffe informing him of this development, and he at once set about disposing his small force in an attempt to protect the baggage, with the pom-pom located near a small hollow. After a couple of hours had passed a number of mounted Boers appeared on a ridge a thousand yards away. As Radclyffe’s men opened fire the Boers dismounted, pushed forward, and sent out small parties to the left and right in an encircling movement against the Rifle Brigade position. Under heavy and accurate fire the pom-pom was moved down towards the hollow and back towards the compound – of the nine men who assisted in moving the pom-pom one was killed and the other eight all wounded.

Seeing that the enemy were now advancing in considerable force, Radclyffe decided to send the baggage back to the column, whilst attempting to hold the Boers in check for as long as possible. Under cover of heavy Rifle Brigade fire from behind the wagons, the native teams began inspanning the oxen. When they were ready to move the native teams started off the wagons in the direction of Colville’s column and, as they did so, the small Rifle Brigade covering party came under very severe fire and had to retire, as the Boers saw that they were losing their target. During this time, Radclyffe and his sections continued their holding action but suffered a number of casualties, with their ammunition running out fast.

With the baggage now well on its way, Radclyffe, who was lying wounded, ordered those in advanced positions who could do so to retire to the compound so as to avoid capture. No. 1 section provided covering fire until their ammunition ran out, at which point the Boers advanced rapidly, forcing their surrender, along with the wounded soldiers. Fortunately, at this point, the main column appeared on the horizon, forcing the Boers to withdraw, leaving their wounded prisoners behind. For some time the wounded on the ridge were exposed to fire from both the returning column and the Boers, and a corporal was seen to make a valiant attempt to carry the wounded Radclyffe to safety. Total losses that day were heavy, with 13 Officers and men killed, 44 wounded, and 19 taken prisoner. For his gallantry in defending the position, Captain Radclyffe was awarded the D.S.O. (article in the O.M.R.S. Journal, Winter 1995 by Jason Grover refers.)

Lowe was one of those Wounded in Action – confirmed in The Times, 3 January 1901 edition which listed all the casualties for the action.


The Times Casualty List

Recovering from his wound, Lowe was posted to Details on 4 March 1901 and repatriated Home on 5 April 1901 where he was to spend the next 255 days before returning to South Africa on 16 December 1901. Whilst in Dublin, he was admitted to hospital on 14 August for a period of 30 for treatment of his Gun Shot Wound, being discharged on 12 September with the remark “Recovered” annotated on his file. He was transferred to the 4th Battalion on 23 November of that year, just prior before sailing for South Africa aboard the S.S. Orient.

The remainder of his 243 days service in South Africa would appear to have been incident free and, as a member of the 4th Battalion, he would have taken part in the closing scenes in the Orange River Colony, when the infantry held the lines and the mounted men did the driving.

On 26 August 1902 he was placed on the A Reserve, on his return to England for the last time. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with the relevant clasps. Stationed once more in Dublin, he wed Annie Curran in St. Catherine’s on 12 October 1902.

According to the 1911 England census the family were living at 73 Farrar Street in Barnsley, Yorkshire. Lowe was an Electric Tram Driver by occupation. Bridget Donnelly, a 12 year old niece was staying with them.

Lowe continued on for a further 13 years before being granted a discharge, time expired, with the rank of Sergeant on 16 August 1915 by which time the First World War was in full swing. He does not appear to have left home shores as a member of the 14th Battalion (Service Battalion) of the Rifle Brigade, mobilised at Winchester on 5 August 1914.

The 1921 England census revealed that Lowe was still employed as a Tram Driver with the Burnley Corporation. He was now 41 years old and was at home at 18 Ford Street, Burnley with his wife and 9 year old daughter, Elizabeth. The 1939 Register has him still at the same address but, oddly, listed as John R. Lowe (it would seem his names were interchangeable. The ever faithful Annie was with him.
Robert John Lowe passed away in Burnley in 1943 at the age of 64.

Hi Rory,

I'm grateful for your post as it enabled me to transcribe some handwriting in the medical records of Pte Arthur Carver who I am researching. He was at Curragh at the same time as Pte Lowe, but in the 2nd Leicesters. They went on to Egypt for 6 months before joining the Boer War in Sept 1900.

While not probably the part of his bio you want to focus on, but both soldiers were treated for Soft Chancre, but I have found this info that indicates that this is likely an infection with the bacteria H. ducreyi and would now be called Chancroid, where are the syphilitic form was referred to as Hard Chancre. It does not sound painless www.jstor.org/stable/24619159 www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/chancroid
Arthur seems to have been particularly keen on extra-curricular activities or particularly unlucky. His medical records show him admitted to hospital for soft chancre, gonorrhoea (twice!) AND syphilis.

I enjoyed reading your profile of Pte Lowe, it is also lovely to see the actual medals. Arthur is not a close relative (married to 1st cousin twice removed), but I love the details the military pension records give and I hadn't found anyone who served in Boer War before, so it was fun to research. I'm not quite done but if you are interested the work I have done is www.wikitree.com/wiki/Carver-5359 I guess I should probably find a place to add a profile here for him once I am done. Do you know if I need to be able to show the actual medals to post within this medals topic?

Best wishes,

Hi Fumblina

Thank you for your kind comments apropos my mini bio. I read your very comprehensive account on Pte. Carver and was most impressed with the depth of your research - just the sort of thing this forum appreciates.

To answer your question - there is no need to showcase Arthur's medals when you post your article. Please go ahead and do so - we, as a collective, can most certainly benefit from your knowledge.

Regards

Rory