Ernest Paul Lowe

A Sapper with 26th Field Company, Ernest died on 21st of April 1918 at the age of 37. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft in 1881, a son of Robert and Agnes Lowe. In 1891 his family lived at 73 Arnold Street and by 1901 they were living at the High Street and Ernest worked as a house painter. Later his parents lived at 2 Parkholme Terrace, High Street.  

On 5 March 1910 Ernest married Clara Gertrude Mewse at Saint Margaret’s Church. Ernest was a painter living at 28 Saint Margaret’s Road, and Clara lived at 7 Walton Road. In 1911 they lived at 243 Raglan Street and later their home was at 87 Saint Margaret’s Road. 

Ernest enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Gloucestershire Regiment, service number 35444. He was posted to France to service with the 13th Battalion and subsequently he was transferred to the Royal Engineers, service number 187521.  

On 18-19 April 1918 26 Field Company moved to Gore defences, near Bethune. During the next two days they were involved in repairing bridges on the canal at Gorre and preparing them with defensive wire. The company’s war diary does not indicate what happened to Ernest but official records state that he was killed in action on 21 April.