On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of Tyneside Z/9579 Signalman William Robert Lowe, serving on H.M. Yacht Verona with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who died 24/02/1917.

The son of John Wardlow Lowe and Jane Wilkie Lowe, of 35, Holly Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In Newcastle (St Andrew’s and Jesmond Cemetery) is a headstone which reads:

In
Loving
Memory of
John Wardlaw Lowe
born April 12th 1854
entered into rest
August 29th 1897.
“Until the day break and the
shadows flee away”.

Also of
William Robert Lowe, R.N.V.R.
son of the above
who lost his life at sea
on the 24th February 1917
aged 31 years.

also of
Jane Wilkie Lowe
wife of the above
who died June 19th 1925
aged 70 years.

Also of
Ernest George Lowe
son of the above
& husband of Nancy Lowe
who died June 21st 1928

And
Elsie Mary Lowe
daughter of the above
who died May 10th 1960.

The Jesmond Presbyterian Book of Remembrance reads:-

Signalman William Robert Lowe,     R.N.V.R.
Deceased was the son of the late Mr. John Wardlaw Lowe, and of Mrs. Lowe, members of the Church.  He was educated at Allan’s Endowed  School, Newcastle, and in civil life was a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.  He entered H.M. Service on 1st March, 1916, being enrolled in the Tyneside Division of the Royal Naval  Volunteer Reserve.  After a course of training he  was posted, in December, 1916, as Signalman, to   H.M.S. “Thalia” (yacht “Verona”) he being  lost with this vessel when she was destroyed two  months later by a  mine explosion in the North Sea on the 24th February, 1917.   He was aged 31 at the time of his death.

William Robert Lowe is remembered at Jesmond on J1.09 and J1.16 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.