Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Desmond Roy Lowrie (Service No:150319) enlisted in the RAAF at No 3 Recruiting Centre Brisbane on 30 July 1943 as an Aircraftman I - mustered as Messman, re mustered as Cook's Assistant. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman, he served with No 3 Aircraft Depot Amberley, and was attached to 8 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Bundaberg at Discharge on 28 Novemebr 1944 (to resume civil occupation).

Des was born in Cairns QLD in 1925, only child of Albert (Bert) John Lowrie (b1897 in Townsville, QLD) and Vivien Maude Wust (b1904 in Herberton, QLD). Bert and Vivian married in 1924 in Cairns, where they settled and raised their son and Bert was a Grocer. In the late 1930s Bert went into the hotel business as a Licensed Victualer, initially in Richmond and by 1940 in Innisfail at the Goondi Hotel. In the late 1950s Bert and Vivien retired to Bundaberg.

Des commenced his apprenticeship as a Jockey in 1939 at AC Anderson's Stables in Brisbane. Following his Discharge from the RAAF, Des resumed his apprenticeship, completing it in 1945 in Bundamba. Des worked as a Jockey through North Queensland (Bundaberg, Innisfail, Brisbane, Mt Isa), and in 1947 in Bundaberg married Jean Steindl (b1928 in Bundaberg, QLD). Des and Jean lived in Bundaberg and Mt Isa, where they raised their family -  Des was a Jockey, and in 1959/1958 was a Fishmonger in Bundaberg before returning to racing. By 1980 Des and Jean had moved to Banyo in Brisbane, where Des worked as a Storeman. Des died in 1986 and Jean in 2004.