The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (926) Sergeant James Lowe, 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Tristan Rallings, the story for this day was on (926) Sergeant James Lowe, 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

926 Sergeant James Lowe, 11th Battalion, AIF
KIA 2 May 1915

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant James Lowe.

James Lowe – known as “Jim”– was born around 1887 in Melbourne, the son of Isaac and Mary Ann Lowe. The Lowe family moved to Western Australia and became well known in the Harvey district.

On the outbreak of war in 1914, James was working as an engine driver in Victoria. He enlisted for active service in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1914 and underwent a brief period of training before leaving for active service overseas with the 11th Battalion. He first went to Egypt, where his training continued in preparation for the landing on Gallipoli.

At 4.30 am on 25 April 1915, the 11th Battalion landed on Gallipoli under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. As they reached the beach, the men stormed up the steep hills to push the Turks back, resulting in a disorganised and confused line. Over the following days the 11th Battalion reorganised and established a stronger line of defence.

On 2 May 1915 a party of men from the 11th Battalion climbed up a steep hill, described as a slope that “could easily pass for a cliff”, and probably reconnoitring their position. Private R. Charman later described what happened:

“Our chaps were all sitting down just under the brow [of the hill], resting, and a few were peeping over the top now and again, keeping watch on the Turks’ movements. One of them drew Jim’s attention to two Turks about 300 yards off. Jim got a bit excited and got his rifle to have a shot at them, when a sniper must have seen him and got in the first shot. It hit him in the forehead, passing clean through his head. He fell straight back, tumbling over and over, falling 50 feet or more before stopping. Death must have been instantaneous.”

Charman reported that Private Jim Lowe was buried near where he fell, but his grave has since been lost, and today he is commemorated on the Lone Pine memorial on the heights above Anzac Cove. After publishing an account of how Jim died in the local newspaper, the Lowe family stopped responding to further requests for information regarding Jim’s grave or next of kin.

Jim Lowe was 27 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private James Lowe, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section