S8133
LOWE, Frank
| Service Number: | 5148 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Laura, South Australia, 12 March 1893 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Laura, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Tinsmith |
| Died: | Whyalla South Australia, 9 October 1976, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Whyalla Cemetery, S.A. Section B, Row 3, Plot 17 |
| Memorials: | Booleroo Centre WW1 Roll of Honour, Booleroo Centre War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 5148, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5148, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5148, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 5148, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 5148, 10th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Frank Lowe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Frank was the son of Benjamin Richard LOWE & Matilda PLANT and was born on the 12th of March 1893 in Laura, SA.
His parents were married on the 31st of August 1874 in All Saints Parish Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
His father was the son of Benjamin LOWE & Emma WEBB and was born on the 19th of August 1854 in Court 8 Princeps Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
His mother was the daughter of Edward & Maria PLANT and was born in 1856 in Aston, Warwickshire, England.
Frank was the tenth child born into this family of 13 children.
His father was a tinplate maker and his parents and 3 eldest siblings arrived in South Australia on the 25th of May 1883 on board the Dundee
The family settled in Kadina as his father was engaged as a plumber/tinsmith on the Wallaroo & Moonta Mines for the Smelting Company.
Two years later they moved to Laura where his father had started his own tin smithing business and named their home “Aston House”.
In 1902 his father applied for a Patent for “Improvements in Acetylene Generators” and the Specifications of his Invention were able to be inspected at the Patent Office in Adelaide.
Frank attended the Laura Public School and then followed in his fathers footsteps and became a Plumber & Iron Worker.
He then moved to Booleroo Centre where he met Miss Rosie May FIEBIG and they welcomed a son; Francis, on the 10th of November 1913.
Frank and Rosie married on the 21st of December 1914 in Booleroo Centre, SA.
Rosie was the daughter of Johann Carl August FIEBIG & Rosalie Christine GEBUR and was born on the 15th of May 1895 in Hawker, SA.
On the 12th of January 1915 his brother Cecil enlisted into the 1st AIF (S10357) and was posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp but was discharged medically unfit on the 17th of February 1915 as he was diagnosed with Heart Murmurs).
His brother William then enlisted into the 1st AIF 6 months later on the 24th of August (B6041) and was posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp.
At the age of 22, Frank enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 14th of September 1915 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 5148 and posted to the 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
On the 1st of February 1916 Frank was transferred to the 10th Battalion, 16th Reinforcements.
Then on the 15th of February Harold enlisted into the 1st AIF (712) and was posted to the 43rd Battalion, D Company.
While Frank was in camp Rosie gave birth to a daughter; Gladys May, on the 21st of February.
His brother William was discharged medically unfit, as his physic was too small, on the 8th of March 1916.
Frank embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on the 25th of March 1916, disembarked in England and marched into the 3rd Training Battalion in Perham Downs.
Whilst Frank was here Harold embarked with the 43rd Battalion from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 9 of June 1916.
He served in France and suffered from trench feet which saw him hospitalised for quite a few months in England.
He never saw active service in France again and was poster to Command Depots in England.
After more than 3 ½ years away from home he finally embarked from England on board HT Karoa on the 25th of March 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of May.
He returned to Rosie and his 2 little children in Booleroo Centre and on the 31st of May a welcome home social was held for Frank in the Booleroo Centre Institute and Frank was presented with an inscribed Gold medal.
Frank was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of June 1919.
They then welcomed their next child; Maxwell, on the 26th of March 1920, followed by Raymond on the 8th of September 1922.
Frank returned to his tin smithery and joined the Booleroo Centre Football Club
Harry was then born on the 8th of June 1925 followed by Marlene.
Maxwell enlisted into the CMF on the 6th of June 1938 and then the 2nd AIF on the 5th of July 1943 (SX31690).
Their son Maxwell was a very talented footballer and played his first game for Sturt Football Club in 1940. Besides when he was on active service in WW2 he played for 116 games for them for in 10 years.
Maxwell played half-forward and even kicked a goal in their 1940 winning Premiership against South Adelaide.
Raymond enlisted into the 2nd AIF on the 13th of December 1941 (SX15534).
Harry enlisted into the CMF on the 11th of October 1943 and then the 2nd AIF on the 3rd of January 1944 (SX37089).
Rose died on the 16th of September 1975 in Whyalla and Frank buried her in the Whyalla Cemetery; Section B, Row 3, Plot 17.
Frank died on the 9th of October 1976 in Whyalla and was buried in the Whyalla Cemetery on the 13th; Section B, Row 3, Plot 17 with his wife Rose.
Military
At the age of 22, Frank enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 14th of September 1915 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 5148 and posted to the 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his wife, of Booleroo Centre, as his next of kin.
On the 1st of October he was transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion and then on the 16th of November he was transferred to the 10th Battalion, 14th Reinforcements before being transferred to A Company on the 16th of January 1916.
On the 1st of February he was transferred to the 10th Battalion, 16th Reinforcements.
Frank embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on the 25th of March 1916, disembarked in England and marched into the 3rd Training Battalion in Perham Downs.
Frank proceeded to France on the 11th of August and was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion on the 1st of September at Kenora Camp, near Poperinghe and the following day they moved to Ottavya Camp for further training.
On the 19th they moved to the Railway Dugouts in Ypres and into the front line and took part in bitter trench warfare.
They then moved to Hill 60 in the Ypres sector before being relieved on the 1st of October and entrained to Brandhoek where they trained before moving to Tournehem, via Steenvorde, on the 12th.
Eight days later they entrained to Pont Remy and then marched to Fricourt for fatigue duty.
They then moved forward to Bernafay Wood Camp on the 30th where they were employed road making before moving to the front line at Gueudecourt on the 6th of November.
They were relieved 6 days later and moved back to Fricourt and then onto Buire on the 17th of November. Two days later they moved to a rest area at Cardonette for further training before moving to Franvillers on the 30th.
On the 6th of December they moved to fatigue duty in Flers and then into the front line 7 days later. After 2 weeks here they were relieved and marched into Bazentine House Camp, near Longueval for more fatigue work and Christmas 1916 spent here.
On New Years Day 1917 they moved to Hobart Camp and on arrival they found it full of mud and the tents were all leaking.
Here they worked on the Montauban Railhead before moving to Dernancourt for further training on the 7th.
A week later they moved to Bresle to continue their training before moving to Albert.
The winter was one of the coldest on record and Frank and his Battalion returned to the Somme in February where they were involved in action near Ligny-le-Barque.
Then on the 12th of February they moved into the support lines at Hexham Road for 2 weeks before being relieved on the 27th and marched to Bazentin.
On the 1st of March they moved to Dernancourt for rest and training for 1 week and then they moved to Shelter Wood Camp and then back to Bresle on the 23rd. Whilst here Frank was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 3rd of April before they moved back into the front line near Longueval.
Frank suffered from trench feet and on the 12th of April he was admitted into the 37th Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station at “Edgehill” in the Somme on the 19th.
Two days later he was transferred to the 12th General Hospital in Rouen and then on the 24th Frank was invalided to England and admitted into the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portmouth on the 30th.
Frank remained here until the 18th of July when he was transferred to the 1st Australia Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield Park House.
He was then discharged to 2 weeks furlo 5 days later and then reported to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott on the 7th of August.
On the 12th of September he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade in Perham Downs for 3 weeks before being transferred to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny on the 4th of October.
He spent 4 weeks here and was then transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth on the 5th of November.
Frank spent Christmas 1917 here and was then posted as Permanent Cadre to the AIF Headquarters.
He remained here until the 31st of October 1918 when he was posted to No.5 Group.
Frank embarked from England on board HT Karoa on the 25th of March 1919 disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of May.
Frank was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of June 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.