Michael James Lowe

Warrant Officer (later Captain) Lowe was no 1 in the AIF, 2nd Infantry Battalion, and embarked on 18th October 1914, aged 42. His next of kin was his wife, Mrs C E Lowe, Naini Tai, Seaforth.

An undated cutting from the Manly Daily states:

“The many friends of Captain M J Lowe will be glad to hear that his wife, Mrs C E Lowe of Seaforth, has received a report from headquarters that Sir Douglas Haig has been pleased to mention him in despatches for his devotion to duty, gallant conduct and great help in the war. This officer, a genuine Anzac, has the honour of being No 1 in the AIF. At the time of joining he was instructor to the North Sydney trainees, having been transferred from Manly, where he was beloved by his boys. Captain Lowe was wounded at Gallipoli, whence he was invalided to Malta Hospital. After recovery he joined the forces in France, taking part in all the engagements, and having, like all the others, a very hot time at Pozieres. Subsequently he was transferred to Salisbury Plain, where, as Major in command of Hurdcott Camp, he had a particularly strenuous time. He has now returned to France, and his many friends hope that he may be spared to return to Australia and his family. With only four days’ furlough, this officer has been on duty since August 1914.”

Captain Lowe was returned to Australia 26 September 1917. He died in January 1953, aged 80 [1]. Latterly he lived at Ellery Parade, Seaforth. He was known to other old soldiers simply as ‘Number One’.

His two sons died in WW2. His wife and two daughters, Ethel and Norah, survived him.His death certificate says Lowe married Catherine Elizabeth Hirrell at Naini-Tal, India, when he was 31 years old, which means the marriage was about 1904. Naini-Tal, or Nainital, was a popular hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Lowe was listed at Naini-Tal, Ellery Parade, in Sands’ Directories 1920 onwards. A correspondent of ours in 2007, whose parents had owned a house in Ellery Parade in the 1930s, stated “We had Captain Lowe living in our street, a very distinguished man”.

Captain M J Lowe was the President of the MWPHS from 1932-1940. In this role he unveiled a monument at Gledhill Lookout in 1936, and was also named as President on a MWPHS monument at Railway Reserve, Hawkesbury in June 1939.Catherine Elizabeth Lowe was listed at Ellery Parade until late 1950s, when she moved to 60 Macpherson Street, Cremorne. Ryerson Index has a death notice for her on 23 April 1977, aged 97.

Captain James Michael Lowe, an accountant in civilian life, (photo on AWM website) was with 2/20th Bn in WW2, NX35117. His war service record is not yet available. He was born at Gorahkpur, India, which fits with his parents’ whereabouts. He died 9 February 1942 and was buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. No marriage record found in NSW BDM.Ethel Elizabeth Gwen Lowe, 21, married Albert Anthony Castello, 30, of Buffalo, New York, a first-class gunner on the USS New Mexico, on 1 August 1925. The New Mexico was visiting Sydney that fortnight. It is not clear if she then went to the USA to live, or if there were children to the marriage [2].

See John Morcombe, Number One Legend, Manly Daily 16 August 2014, p18-19.

[1] SMH 7 January 1953, p4; privately cremated, SMH 10 January 1953, p36.

[2] NSW BDM 12048/1925.