NER Railway Staff Magazine 1918
Medal Index card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Roger Lowdon, one of 5 children all of whom survived, was the 2nd born of 3 sons and had 2 elder sisters. His father Thomas Lowdon born at Stanhope, County Durham, May 17th 1865, the son of a shepherd, at the age of 5 was living with his family at Waskerley, Muggleswick, County Durham. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a shepherd and married Elizabeth Robson born October 27th 1865 near Hexham, Northumberland, at Muggleswick, October 24th 1891. Employed as a game keeper Thomas supported his growing family, Lionel William born 1893 at Waskerley Park House, County Durham, Margaret, Susannah and Roger, 1894, May 24th 1896 and 1898 respectively at Salter’s Gate, Waskerley and Thomas Lynsay at Wolsingham, August 29th 1903. They were still at Salters Gate in 1911, Lionel and Margaret had left home, Susannah (14), Roger (12) and Lindsay (7) were scholars.
Roger declared he was 18 years of age and employed by the North East Railway as a cleaner when he enlisted, December 15th 1915 at Consett and despite having lied about his age, as he was in fact only 16/17 years of age, he succeeded and was transferred to the Army Reserve. Examined February 21st 1917 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Barracks, Northumberland, found to be fit he was mobilised May 15th 1917, left his employment as a fireman with the railway and assigned as Private 35124 East Yorkshire Regiment he was posted to the 3rd Battalion the following day which as of 1916 was stationed at Withernsea, a training unit but also part of the Humber Garrison. As part of the British Expeditionary Force he left Withernsea August 15th 1917 having been posted initially to the 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, granted 1 days leave, August 19th-20th 1917, he departed to France August 23rd 1917, once arrived at the front 9 days later he was posted and joined “C’ Company 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 64th Brigade, 21st Division, on the Ypres salient where it had been engaged in fighting since July 31st 1917 during Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele, which raged until November 10th 1917. Private Lowdon fell ill November 1st due to the adverse conditions in the trenches and was taken to the 21st Dressing Station suffering from pyrexia (fever) from there taken by the 57th Field Ambulance for admission to hospital until his discharge to duty, November 16th 1917. The battalion returned to France and saw action during the Cambrai Operations. Private Lowdon was recognised for his act of bravery during battle on land, October 2nd 1917 and gazetted January 14th 1918 receiving the Military Medal. March 1918 he was wounded in France (nature unspecified) when his regiment returned to the Somme as the Germans launched a second offensive on that front.
Private Lowdon was reported as missing March 20th 1918, his father a next of kin was informed and extensive investigations were made as to his whereabouts. After months of anxiety and uncertainty, November 16th 1918, the officer in charge of the Records Office, York, received an official German List of Dead. This was deemed to be sufficient evidence of the death of Private Lowdon and although an official place of burial was not supplied his father was informed as follows, “Sir, It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has been received from the War Office notifying the death of 35124 Private R. Lowdon East Yorkshire Regt. and that it has been accepted as sufficient evidence of death for official purposes. The date of death has been assumed to be on or since 22–3-1918, ex German list of dead D.21/23. By His Majesty’s command I am to forward you the enclosed message of sympathy from Their Gracious Majesties the King and Queen. I am at the same time to express the regret of the Army Council at the soldier’s death in his Country’s service, I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant. For Colonel. i/c No 1 Infantry Records, York.” Newcastle Journal 07/05/1918 reads:-Mr Thomas Lowdon, Salter’s Gate, Waskerley has been officially informed that his son Private Roger Lowdon, East Yorkshire Regiment was wounded on March 22nd but it is not yet known into which hospital he has been admitted. Any information from comrades or others concerning him will be gratefully received.
Understandably his parents were intent on knowing the final fate of their son, having written a letter to which they had not received a reply his father wrote again, May 5th 1919, “To the Officer In Charge. Dear Sir, It is some weeks now since I wrote asking you for further news of my son Private Roger Lowdon 35124, 1st East Yorks. “C” Company, 21st Division but I have had no reply - surely there must be some records of what became of him by this time. Please let me know the records you have of him & let me know if there is any of his personal belongings or disc & the Military Medal he was recommended for by General Campbell on Oct. 5th 1917. Could we please have them. I shall be thankful if you will help to get me any news of him and any of his belongings. Please do let me know as soon as you can. Will Greatly Oblige, Thos. Lowdon.”
The uncertainty as to where their son was buried endured for the Lowdon family until February 24th 1922 and beyond. His father had written a letter to the Infantry Records Office, York, received by them February 22nd 1922 requesting news as to the whereabouts of his son’s grave. His letter received an immediate response, sent to him at his new address of Tunstall Cottage, Wolsingham, County Durham, as follows, Sir, With reference to your letter to hand regarding your late son No 35124 Pte. R. Lowdon, East Yorkshire Regiment, I regret to inform you that no further information has up to date been received in this office than that already forwarded to you. A letter has however been forwarded to the Imperial War Graves Commission, London, asking if they have any further information. On receipt of their reply a further communicational be sent to you, Yours faithfully.
The German authorities never communicated the exact whereabouts of Private 35123 Roger Lowdon’s resting place, his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 14,708 names inscribed on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France, which forms the perimeter wall of Pozieres British Cemetery, commemorating casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who died in the sector, March 21st to August 7th 1918, who have no known grave. The date of March 22nd 1918 has been adopted by the CWGC as the official date of his demise. He was 19 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to him May 21st 1919 and his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Military Medal sent to him at Salter’s Gate, Waskerley, County Durham.
Roger’s brother Lionel William Lowdon, who in England was employed as a horse man on a farm, run by the White family at Stocksfield, emigrated to Canada and was granted Canadian citizenship. In early 1916, employed as a labourer, he was living as a lodger with the Haywood family at 25/1st Woodworth, Brandon, Manitoba. October 7th 1916 he applied for a homestead in Alberta. No record of war service has been found. Lionel married July 19th 1928 to Edna May Shoemaker born 1914 in Manitoba, the daughter of English immigrants Louis and Alice Shoemaker who had arrived in Canada in 1906. Further details unavailable.
Susannah Lowdon married John Scott in 1917, their daughter Elizabeth was born March 17th 1919, son Stuart, November 17th 1921. In 1939 they were living at Brockley Cottages, near Hexham, Northumberland. Her husband was employed as a farm labourer, daughter Elizabeth a dairymaid. Susannah Scott nee Lowdon of 2, Pennine View, Tow Law, County Durham, died November 22nd 1988, aged 69 years.
Thomas Lindsay Lowdon was too young to have fought in WW1. In 1939 Thomas Lowdon, a retired shepherd, his wife Elizabeth and Thomas Lionel a cobbler were living at Stuartfield Farm, Satley, County Durham. Thomas Lindsay married Louvain Liddle in 1946 in the district of Durham, their son John T. Lowdon was born in 1948. Thomas Lindsay died in 1985 aged 79 years.
Details as regards the demise of Margaret Lowdon and Roger’s parents, unknown.
It should be noted Roger’s father signed himself with the surname Lowdon confirmed also by the CWGC entry.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Roger's name is included in a booklet on the names on the Wolsingham Cenotaph compiled by Morris Ward.
Roger Lowdon is remembered at Satley as Lowden on S116.01 at Muggleswick on M48.02 and (as Lowdon) on M48.03 at Wolsingham as Lowden on W128.02 and W128.05
