LOWBRIDGE, George
| Service Number: | 457 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 July 1915, 4.5 years 4th Infantry and 12 months AMC |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia, 11 November 1895 |
| Home Town: | The Junction, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Adamstown Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bootmaker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, "Anzac Ridge", Passchendaele, Belgium, 22 October 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Aeroplane Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hope of Adamstown Tent No I.O.R. 76, Junction Soldier's Memorial, Merewether Junction Methodist Church Roll of Honour, Merewether Public School Roll of Honour, Newcastle (Gardner Memorial) War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 457, 30th Infantry Battalion, 4.5 years 4th Infantry and 12 months AMC | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 457, 30th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 457, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 30 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Oct 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 457, 30th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 457 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-10-22 | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 457, 30th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood, Congratulatory recommendation (originally MM). Polygon Wood, this NCO displayed conspicuous bravery in leading patrols forward into enemy positions. There patrols found several listening posts and silenced several snipers. On the night of 28/29th Sept he was out placing a working party when out SOS barrage came down. He lay out under the barrage and took the opportunity of watching the enemy's movements in rushing into pillboxes for shelter and brought back valuable information. This NCO displayed the greatest coolness and courage, and I consider his works worthy of special recognition. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery.
Sergeant George Lowbridge 457, 30th Battalion
102 years ago today, on the Monday evening of the 18th June 1917, the Junction Methodist Church & Sabbath School Roll of Honour was unveiled, in the presence of a very large audience.
12 names had been inscribed on a beautiful marble tablet (the work of Messrs. Meldrum and Markey, now located in the Merewether Uniting Church, 178 Glebe Road, Merewether, N.S.W.) of the young men from the church who had enlisted in The Great War, with 2 names added later. Only 1 name has been designated as paying the supreme sacrifice, and this young man is awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
Sergeant George Lowbridge, 30th Battalion, bootmaker from 'Southcote', Macquarie Street, Merewether, New South Wales, fell on the 22nd October 1917 at the 1st Battle of Passchendaele, age 21 years 11 months.
Born at Chatham Street, Adamstown, New South Wales on the 11th November 1895 to Moses (died 1959) and Jane Ann (died 1963) Lowbridge, George enlisted July 1915 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital December 1916 with trench feet - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133837262, George is now resting at Aeroplane Cemetery, Belgium. Plot II Row C Grave 21.
George’s name has also been inscribed on the Junction Soldiers' Memorial, Gardner Memorial, Adamstown Independent Order of Rechabites Roll of Honour, Hope of Adamstown Tent No. 76 Honour Roll, and the Merewether Public School Roll of Honour.
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on his parent’s headstone, and I am unable to place a memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of his supreme sacrifice for King and Country over 100 years ago.
Lest We Forget.
Congratulatory recommendation (originally MM).
Polygon Wood, this NCO displayed conspicuous bravery in leading patrols forward into enemy positions. There patrols found several listening posts and silenced several snipers. On the night of 28/29th Sept he was out placing a working party when out SOS barrage came down. He lay out under the barrage and took the opportunity of watching the enemy's movements in rushing into pillboxes for shelter and brought back valuable information. This NCO displayed the greatest coolness and courage, and I consider his works worthy of special recognition.
I think Sgt Lowbridge was very unlucky not to be awarded a Military Medal for these brave acts.
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