Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gavin Low served as a trooper with the New South Wales Citizen Bushmen during the Boer War. He must have been a capable soldier as he was promoted to Corporal and Sergeant during his time in South Africa.

He enlisted as a Private for WW1 at the age of 43 and won the Military Medal for bravery in the field at Gallipoli, the recommendation was for his efforts during the evacuation, 'Detailed to an advanced listening post on night of Anzac evacuation. He was alone, but obtained and brought back valuable information of the Turks' movements during the critical stages of the operation. He was on duty continually for 10 hours in an isolated post, and withdrew with the last party. (19-20 December 1915)’.

He was promoted to Corporal just after the Gallipoli evacuation and then Sergeant soon after. During the heaviest fighting at Pozieres, he was again mentioned in despatches for 'Initiative and resource in taking temporary command of platoon, rendering great assistance to his superiors, and personally showing courage and coolness under fire.'

Low was shot in the knee on the 5 August 1916 and evacuated to a hospital but died of wounds 12 days later. The two gallantry awards were sent to his wife in Lockhart after the war, she also was left with 2 boys, aged 8 and 7 when their father died. The following letter accompanied the Military Medal,

Dear Madam,

It is with feelings of admiration at the gallantry of a brave Australian soldier who nobly laid down his life in the service of our King and Country, that I am directed by the Honourable The Minister to forward to you, as the next-of-kin of the No 753 Corporal G Low, 20th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, the Military Medal which His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award to that gallant soldier for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty while serving with the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force.

I am also to ask you to accept his deep personal sympathy in the loss which, not only you, but the Australian Army has sustained by the death of Corporal Low whose magnificent conduct on the field of battle has helped earn for our Australian soldiers a fare which will endure as long as memory lasts.

Yours Faithfully, Major, Officer I/C Base Records.

A small article also appeared in the Cootamundra Herald 5 September 1916. GUNDAGAI. ‘Another ex-Gundagai man has been killed at the war—Sergeant Gavin Low, who managed McEvoy's Tarrabandra Estate for about three months, somewhere about two years ago. Sergeant Low was about 40 years of age, and was a son of one of the pioneers of the Riverina, his father taking up land at Jackson's Waterholes, between Narrandera and Lockhart, many years ago'.