Tpr. Louis Henry Lowe

Louis Henry Lowe was born at Ōtāhūhū in Auckland, New Zealand on 11 January 1893 (reg. 1893/1788). His parents were Henry Lowe and Sarah Lowe (nee Goodwin) who had married in New Zealand in 1888. Louis worked as a butcher, likely for his father in Thames. During World War I he served with the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Louis was wounded in action on 14 November 1917, receiving gunshot wounds to both legs. He died of his wounds the following day at the New Zealand Field Ambulance at Nebi Kunda, Palestine. 24-year-old Louis was originally buried on Nebi Kunda, 100yrds S.W. of Wadi on the crest of hill. He was later moved to Ramleh War Cemetery. Bio by Debbie McCauley (26 September 2024).

Letter home to his mother from Moascar dated 14 August 1916: Dear Ma, Just a line to let you see I am still doing well and keeping in the best of health. We left the other camp early last week. I rode through on horseback leaving Tel el Kebir 5:00 am Monday morning, reaching Moascar 6:00 pm Tuesday. It was a most enjoyable ride, for we travelled only in the cool of the mornings and evenings, and always managed to spell in the prettiest and most interesting places. Our present camp is most ideally situated, that is when you remember you are in Egypt, never the most pleasant of places. A mile takes one to a most enjoyable swimming place, where hundreds congregate each afternoon, so you see I am here in my glory. Within a couple of miles is the town of Ismailia. I have only so far spent a couple of hours there; last Friday night we drove in, and spent a very agreeable evening. I believe there are some very pretty spots nearby, which I hope to have a look at in the course of the next day or so. My word this is the place for aeroplanes, the aerodrome is within a stone's throw - rather an unsafe place if many enemy planes were about, but this part is but seldom troubled with them. I was over and had a look through on Saturday last, they are beautiful machines. I would give anything for a good flight in one. We have had no word yet about going out to the Brigade. Thought this morning there was something doing. We were ordered up to the orderly room, but we were wanted only to be informed of another change in our numbers. Mine was altered from 10500 to 12679. You got my last letter to Pa in which I told you of my change of address, at any rate I will put it at the end of this letter in case of any mishap to the last. Talking of letters, I have only had two, one from you and one from Rose so far, but I expect a big budget some fine day in the near future. I suppose they have all gone across to England, so will have to await their return. Bye the bye, you might send me along occasionally a local paper when it so happens to have anything interesting in it, of which I know is very seldom. They are nearly as bad as our Egyptian papers. I had a couple put away which I was going to post you. They contained an account of the engagements at Katia, but I mislaid them while shifting. I have not seen a casualty list yet, so don't know how the Thames boys with the Mounted got on. This is the place for fruit. Tomatoes are ripe nearly all the year round. Grapes and water melons are my favourites, and they cost you next to nothing. I am sending you a few snaps that we or rather, McPherson has taken. Do you think I look any the worse for my sea trip and my sojourns in Egypt? Now with very best love to yourself and all at home. I remain Yours affectionately, Louis.

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohL.html / Ref 11.4.2021