H.M.H.S. St Denis

Septimus Lowery was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1892, one of 3 children of whom only 2 survived he was the eldest of 2 sons. His father Christopher John A. Lowrey born 1843 married in 1882 to widow Margaret Charlton nee Finch born 1838, both were natives of Sunderland. Margaret had 4 children from her previous marriage, Thomas (21) an engine fitter, Samuel (14) a grocer’s assistant, Jane (10) and John (8) both scholars. Prior to her marriage she was living at 3, Wellington Street, Felling. She and Christopher remained there, however in the census of 1891 Margaret is erroneously listed as Margaret Charlton, head of the household, still married and supported by Samuel (24), employed as a grocer’s assistant, John (19) coal miner, Septimus (9) and brother James Lowrey (8) were scholars, the whereabout of Christopher are unknown. By 1911 Christopher (68) now a retired coal miner, Margaret and her son John Charlton employed as a weight-man above ground at the colliery, are together at 5, Thomas Street, Felling,

Septimus married at Gateshead, February 9th 1907, to Isabella Foster native of Southwick, County Durham born 1886, with whom he had a son Thomas Lowrey. He left his employment as a coal miner, giving his address as Coronation Street, Pelton, County Durham, to enlist at Chester-le-Street, December 12th 1915. He was assigned as Private, part of the reserve forces, until being mobilised October 13th 1916 and sent to the depot at Ripon. He wrote a letter at about the same time to the authorities informing them of his new permanent address of 5, Thomas Street, Felling. Presumably his wife and son after his departure moved in with his mother to give her support after she lost her husband and having two sons Samuel and James at the front.

Private 24272 Septimus Lowrey was transferred to the 4th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment and departed January 14th 1917 via Southampton disembarking at Le Havre, France, January 16th. The regiment moved towards the Belgian coast which was mostly occupied by the Germans after the,”Race to the Sea”, which threatened the British naval supremacy.

Whilst on active service he received a gunshot wound to his left forearm, May 3rd 1917. Transported by Field Ambulance to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station at Achiet-le-Grand, Pas de Calais and from there that same day to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, he was evacuated to England, May 4th 1917 aboard H.M.H.S. St. Denis bound for Dover. During his recovery he spent time at Wentworth Woodhouse near Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Once recovered he was no longer fit for active service and was posted to the 4th Reserve at Ripon, Yorkshire as Class P(T), July 28th 1918. Class P(T), related to men, “whose services are deemed to be temporarily of more value to the county in civil life rather than in the Army, who were not lower than medical grade Ciii and as a result of having served in the Army or TF would, if discharged, be eligible for a pension on the grounds of disability or length of service”. August 20th 1919 he was awarded Silver Badge number B266149 and permanently discharged. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.