Nov 17, 1895
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Born in Clements, Kansas, USA to John William and
Harriet Fanny (nee Taylor) Lowe
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Dec 11, 1914
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Attested into the 21st 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 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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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
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Sep 2, 1915
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Posted from the Depot Company to 6 Platoon, “B”
Company
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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May 6, 1916
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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
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May 7, 1916
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Transferred to the division rest station
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May 10, 1916
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Discharged to duty from the rest station
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Jun 13, 1916
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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
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He wrote later
about the incident
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Jun 14, 1916
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Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian Stationary
Hospital in Boulogne, France
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Jun 20, 1916
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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
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Aug 3, 1916
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Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital
in Woodcote Park, Epsom
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Aug 17, 1916
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Medical Board recommends 4 weeks of physical
training to continue his recovery
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Aug 19, 1916
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Attached to the No. 2 CCD (Canadian Command
Depot) for physical training at St. Leonard’s Hospital
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Sep 21, 1916
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Discharged from hospital care and transferred to
the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling
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Oct 19, 1916
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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
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Nov 22, 1916
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Attached to the Headquarters of the CTD (Canadian
Training Depot) for duty in Shorncliffe
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Jan 4, 1917
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Transferred to the newly formed 6th
Reserve Battalion and remained attached to the training depot headquarters.
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Apr 30, 1917
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
Ceased to be attached to the training depot and
joined the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Aug 9, 1917
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Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in
Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Phimosis
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Aug 21, 1917
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Surgery was performed to correct the problem
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Oct 4, 1917
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Nov 14, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) and Taken On Strength the 21st Battalion
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Nov 17, 1917
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)
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Feb 1, 1918
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After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Lowe rejoined the 21st Battalion in the Hills Camp near Neuville
St Vaast, France
On arrival with the battalion, he was attached to
the 4th TMB (Canadian Trench Mortar Battery) for duty
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May 13, 1918
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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
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May 15, 1918
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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
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May 18, 1918
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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
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Jul 16, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 16 Canadian General
Hospital, Orpington, Kent
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Aug 22, 1918
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Surgery performed to repair an Inguinal Hernia
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Sep 10, 1918
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Transferred to the Massy-Harris Convalescent
Hospital in Kingswood, London
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Oct 25, 1918
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Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special
Hospital in Buxton
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Nov 20, 1918
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Surgery performed to repair nerve damage in his
arm
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Jan 16, 1919
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Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General
Hospital in Kirkdale
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Feb 2, 1919
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Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship
Araguaya, embarking in Liverpool
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Feb 13, 1919
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Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded
to Calgary, Alberta, Canada and posted to the Hospital Section
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Feb 20, 1919
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Granted leave until March 5, 1919
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Mar 5, 1919
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Admitted to the Ogden Military Hospital in
Calgary
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Aug 20, 1919
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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
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Sep 16, 1919
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Discharged from hospital to the care of the
Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment Department
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Feb 17, 1922
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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
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