Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 10/08/1940
- Date of Discharge
- 26/10/1945
- Place of Enlistment
- Canberra ACT
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 18/12/1919
- Place of Birth
- Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
- Address (at enlistment)
- Kennedy Street, Kingston ACT
- Occupation
- Carpenter
- Next of Kin
- John Lowes (father), Kennedy Street, Kingston ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- N43821
- Final Rank
- Private
- Final Unit
- 3 Australian Infantry Battalion
Notes
Lowes was mobilised in Canberra with the 3rd Battalion (the Werriwa Regiment) on 10 January 1940 and commenced full-time duty on 23 December 1941. He arrived in Port Moresby in May 1942 and entered the Kokoda track as part of Maroubra Force on 5 September 1942 and fought with 3 Battalion at Ioribaiwa, Imita, Templeton's Crossing, Oivi and Gona. He was hospitalised with malaria in December 1942 and evacuated to Townsville. Lowes spent most of 1943 recovering his health before being transferred to the 7th Battalion in early 1944. In April 1944 he was sent to Lae, New Guinea then the Treasury Islands (near the Solomon Islands) in October 1944. He died on 30 July 1988 and is buried in Woden Cemetery. He was the brother of Austin and Eric Lowes.
Sources
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/cem_gravesearch.asp
NAA RecordSearch - Series B884