1885-1917
Thomas Lowbridge (Lowbridge a family name on his mother`s side) also attended Greenbank School, Trent College, Nottingham (left 1902) and finally Liverpool College. He then went to Corpus Christi Cambridge obtaining a BA and then undertook a Divinity course at Wyckliffe Hall, Oxford. He went to work in the Mission Field in China and when WW1 broke out travelled to Perth, Australia and enlisted in the Shaftesbury Hotel on 26th July 1915 with the Australian Imperial Forces in the Infantry. On his enlistment he was described as 29 years and 11 months, height 5 feet 2 1/2 inches, weight 121lbs, chest measurement 31/33 inches, complexion fresh, eyes blue, hair brown. On his attestation papers he puts himself down as a schoolmaster and that he had served four years with the C.I.V.(?) and resigned. In answer to the question had he ever been rejected as unfit for His Majesty`s Service and on what grounds, he wrote ‘Yes, chest measurement’.
Early in 1916 he was serving in France and at the end of July was wounded in action. On the 12th August 1916 he received a Field General Court Martial and the charge was wilful defiance of authority which occurred on 4th July! He was sentenced to 30 days. He was returned to the 1st West General Hospital in Liverpool on the 24th of August. In November he returned to France and in January 1917 he was again wounded, this time fatally. His commemorative information is at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France. VI. H.14.
In his file there is a copy letter from his brother Alfred to the military
“Dear Sir
In March 1915, my brother, 2248, Private T L Young 28th Battalion, 7th Brigade, enlisted in the AIF and left at short notice for the front. He then deposited some private effects with Messrs. Rudders, unfortunately in 1917 he was killed while on active service. Rudders forwarded the goods per the Dominion Express Co. to my father, Col. T F Young, now living at 2130 Central Avenue, Shoal Bay, Victoria.
My father complains at the charge made, as he understood the Military Authorities returned deceased soldiers effects free of charge.
I made enquiries at Military Headquarters in Melbourne but they referred me to you.
I should deem it a favour if you would look into the matter at your earliest convenience, and see what can be done and communicate the result to my father
Yours faithfully
(Sgd) A H Innes Young’
He is listed on the Liverpool College Roll of Honour, where it states he was with the 28th Battalion of the Australian Contingent and served some time in Egypt. He was actually a stretcher-bearer (volunteer). His effects forwarded to his father Thomas in Lord Street included Bible, 12 Handkvs, Tin, Purse, 8 Coins, Card case, Safety razor and blades, Testament, Cap comforter, Studs, Tie, Clip, Waterproof bag, Needles, Air cushion (damaged), 2 Brushes, Cotton bag, Post cards. Also Wrist watch and strap, Leather purse, Holy Bible, Hymn Book, 3 notebooks, letters, Religious book, Scissors, Badge.
Obviously Thomas Lowbridge was fairly short in stature and I would be interested to know his siblings` measurements. I do know from photographs that his sister Dora, my grandmother, was also very short.
