Nov 17, 1895

Born in Clements, Kansas, USA to John William and Harriet Fanny (nee Taylor) Lowe

Dec 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59606 (temporary number 1154)

Ø  Next of kin given as Miss F. Lowe, sister, c/o Mrs. Millen, Deseronto, Ontario

o   Later noted as Mrs. Harriet Lowe, widowed mother, 68 Alma Road, Windsor, Berkshire, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as Clerk

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

While in England, Private Lowe served as Batman to then Captain E. Kidd MC, the battalion’s Chaplain

Sep 2, 1915

Posted from the Depot Company to 6 Platoon, “B” Company

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

May 6, 1916

While resting in the “B” Camp near La Clytte, Belgium, Private Lowe reported sick and was admitted to No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Neurasthenia Shell

May 7, 1916

Transferred to the division rest station

May 10, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

Jun 13, 1916

While in the front line near Verbrande Molen, Belgium on the Ypres Salient, Private Lowe received a shrapnel wound to his left thigh and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station behind the lines for further treatment

He wrote later about the incident

Jun 14, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France

Jun 20, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Denis

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Bidborough Court Hospital, Tunbridge Wells

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Aug 3, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Aug 17, 1916

Medical Board recommends 4 weeks of physical training to continue his recovery

Aug 19, 1916

Attached to the No. 2 CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training at St. Leonard’s Hospital

Sep 21, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Oct 19, 1916

Medical Board at West Sandling notes

Ø  Recovering from shrapnel wounds to his left thigh

Ø  Suffers from irritable heart

Ø  Heart beat is rapid and suffers from tremors

Ø  Thyroid is slightly enlarged

Ø  Cannot do long marches as his heart races and he gets short of breath

Ø  Board recommends that he is only capable of sedentary work such as a clerk in a pay office etc

Nov 22, 1916

Attached to the Headquarters of the CTD (Canadian Training Depot) for duty in Shorncliffe

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion and remained attached to the training depot headquarters.

Apr 30, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Ceased to be attached to the training depot and joined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Aug 9, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Phimosis

Aug 21, 1917

Surgery was performed to correct the problem

Oct 4, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Nov 14, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Nov 17, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

Feb 1, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Lowe rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the Hills Camp near Neuville St Vaast, France

On arrival with the battalion, he was attached to the 4^th TMB (Canadian Trench Mortar Battery) for duty

May 13, 1918

While the trench mortar battery was engaged east of Mercatel, France, Private Lowe received shrapnel wounds to his left arm causing bone fractures and nerve damage.  He was evacuated first to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station behind the lines where initial surgery was performed to repair damage to an artery

May 15, 1918

Transferred via the No. 32 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 3 Stationary Hospital in Rouen, France where a second surgery was performed

May 18, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St David

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Jul 16, 1918

Transferred to the No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington, Kent

Aug 22, 1918

Surgery performed to repair an Inguinal Hernia

Sep 10, 1918

Transferred to the Massy-Harris Convalescent Hospital in Kingswood, London

Oct 25, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Nov 20, 1918

Surgery performed to repair nerve damage in his arm

Jan 16, 1919

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale

Feb 2, 1919

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya, embarking in Liverpool

Feb 13, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Calgary, Alberta, Canada and posted to the Hospital Section

Feb 20, 1919

Granted leave until March 5, 1919

Mar 5, 1919

Admitted to the Ogden Military Hospital in Calgary

Aug 20, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Calgary, Alberta

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 181362

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number C67756

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Bowden, Alberta

Discharged to the care of the SCR (Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment) Department and remained in the Ogden Hospital

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 1032-21 Ave., S.W., Calgary, Alberta

Sep 16, 1919

Discharged from hospital to the care of the Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment Department

Feb 17, 1922

Entered the USA at Sweet Grass, Montana to visit a friend in Great Falls, Montana

Married to Annie L. Glover in Edmonton, Alberta in 1930

In 1973, John Lowe visited the old battlefields and saved this photo of him at the Brooding Soldier Memorial in St. Julien