Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Robinson Lowe, a general labourer, born 1867 in Queniborough, Leicestershire., and his wife Mary Ann Lowe (married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1865 in Aylestone, Leicester. Alfred was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Queniborough, his siblings were, Edward, born in the 4th quarter of 1899 and William, born 1891, the latter two siblings were both born in Queniborough, Evelyn Agnes, born 1896, in St. Mary’s, Leicester and Harry, born 1899 in Queniborough, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Queniborough. In April 1911 Alfred was absent from the family home at Main Street, Queniborough, residing there was his father a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Eveline, a Griswold knitter, Celia, born 1902, Walter, born 1904, Charles, born 1906 and Dorothy, born 1908, the latter four siblings were all born in Queniborough, Alfred was serving as a Private with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed in Aldershot, Hampshire. His elder brother Edward died of wounds received in action on the 21st October 1915.
Alfred attested into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 10th October 1910 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Queniborough, Leicestershire, his age as 17 years and 7 months and his trade or calling as farm labourer. He stated that he was unmarried. He gave his father Robinson Lowe, his mother Mary Ann Lowe, his brother William Lowe and sister Eveline Lowe, all of Queniborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3¾ inches in height, weighed 120 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had a mole on the left side of his abdomen. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounce fit for the Army Reserve on the 6th October 1910 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Special Reservist) as a Private, service number 10653 on the 6/10/10. Enlisted into the Regular Army (Leicestershire Regiment) on the 8/3/11. Total Reserve service 153 days. Alfred attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 8th March 1911 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Queniborough, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 1 month and his trade or calling as farm labourer. He stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he had served with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – Special Reservists. He gave his father Robinson Lowe, his mother Mary Ann Lowe and sister Evelyn Lowe, all of Main Street, Queniborough, Leicestershire, his bother Edward Lowe serving with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and his brother William Lowe of Long Clawson, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9117 on the 8/3/11. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 20/3/11. Awarded the Army Certificate of Education 3rd Class on the 27/10/11. Posted to Fermoy, Ireland on the -?-. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked aboard H.T. Dongola on the 23/9/13 -?-. Posted to Bareilly, India on the -?-. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the -?-. Appointed Lance Corporal, unpaid on the 27/11/14. Killed in action, place not stated on the 25/1/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 8/3/11 – 23/9/13, 2 years 206 days. India, 24/9/13 – 11/10/14, 1 year 18 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 12/10/14 – 25/1/15. 106 days. Total service 3 years and 324 days. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. On the 16th August 1915 his mother received a letter with a parcel from the Officer in charge of Infantry Records, No. 6 District, Lichfield, with Alfred’s personal possessions consisting of a Princess Mary card, a Field Service Prayer Book, 1 comb and some correspondence. The following information was provided by (This part of the document is missing), and was witnessed and signed by (This part of the document is missing) on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Robinson Lowe of Queniborough, Leicestershire. Mother of soldier, Mary Ann Lowe of Queniborough, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Lowe, age 28 of 73, Queen’s Gardens, South Kensington, Surrey. Harry Lowe, age 2? serving aboard HMS Erin. Walter Lowe and Charles Lowe, both of Queniborough, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Celia Lowe, age 18 and Dorothy Lowe, age 12, both of Queniborough, Leicestershire. Alfred’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Jan-15 - At 7.00am no change. At 7.30am German shelling RUE DU BOIS and advanced trenches. At 9.45am heavy firing on the left, some firing on my front, C Coy in houses, A and D Coys in trenches. At 10.07am all former firing on my left reported to be enemy’s fire. At 10.25 received information from Brigade, prisoner reports attack contemplated against this part of British front. BETHUNE shelled this morning. At 11.20am at present all quiet, communication with left Battn (SHERWOOD FORESTERS) broken down. Used orderly who returns 1.00pm informed that Germans have been pouring rapid fire, shells, bombs in their right section, this activity has never occurred before. Germans did not show themselves. At 1.26pm firing near my left has ceased. At 5.15pm Orderly again returns from left Battn who report all quiet. At 5.45pm telephone communication again established. At 10.00pm all quiet. Continue to improve barricade on left and build breast work, also continue loop holing houses.
On Friday February 26th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – QUENIBOROUGH SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION. – The parents of Lance Corporal, Alfred Lowe, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, have been informed by the War Office that their son was killed in action on January 25th. He had been in the army four years, and had served in Ireland and India. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Lowe, of Queniborough, near Leicester, and his two elder brothers are serving with the Colours.
On Saturday February 27th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – The parents of Lance Corporal Alfred Lowe, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, have been informed by the War Office that their son was killed in action on January 25th. He had been in the army four years, and had served in Ireland and India. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Lowe of Queniborough, near Leicester, and his two elder brothers are serving with the colours.
On Friday September 27th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “QUENIBOROUGH.” – MEMORIAL SERVICE. – A memorial service was held in the Parish Church on Thursday evening for Captain C. H. Woodhouse and 15 others from the parish who have fallen in the war, viz. Lieut. Brooks, Lieut. T. Fox, Edward Lowe, Alfred Lowe, William Glover, Sydney Crawford, Max Crawford, Percy Ogden, Charles Stiff, Harold Mansfield, Richard Mansfield, Isaac Bursnell, William Cook.