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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 220

A Great War 'Tunnellers’' D.S.O., M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. Lowry, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and Royal Engineers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, top riband bar adapted for mounting; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. M. Lowry. D. of Corn. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major T. M. Lowry.); Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, breast Badge, gold and enamel; Italy, Kingdom, Bronze War Cross, centres loose and depressed on first and reverse centre of sixth lacking, very fine (7)

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Italian Order of the Crown London Gazette 19 August 1921.

Italian War Cross London Gazette 17 May 1919.

Thomas Martin Lowry was born in Cambourne, Cornwall in 1875. The Cornishman gives further detail:

'...was the son of Mr. I T. Lowry, Manager of the branch of Barclays Bank, and who later became manager of Messrs. Rabling and Co., as a young man he was a student at Camborne School of Mines, and while there he had occasion to visit Dolcoath Mine, where he met with a serious accident. Leaving Camborne he proceeded, with his brother Marshall, to Australia. Subsequently he was appointed Inspector of Mines in West Africa. On the outbreak of the Great War he offered his services, and was attached the Sappers and Miners.'

Lowry served with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in France from 16 December 1914, but was taken sick and landed back at Dover on 26 January 1915. Having recovered from his sickness, he thence put his skills to good use, being attached to the Royal Engineers from 12 August 1915, employed at home recruiting for Tunnelling Company's. He landed in France and joined the 174th Tunnelling Company on 6 September 1915, joining the 173rd Tunnelling Company on 26 October. Having gone on leave in March 1916, he was given extended leave due to 'urgent private affairs', re-joining the unit in France on 3 December 1916. Serving with his unit, he had rest in August 1917, before being taken sick at No. 47 Casualty Clearing Station in the Field on 5 January 1918. Having been called to assist in Italy after the Caporetto Disaster. Re-joining the 173rd in March 1918, he was posted to Command the Maltese Tunnelling Company in Italy from 26 September 1918 and was made Inspector of Works for the Imperial War Graves Commission at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in Italy from 28 December 1918. At War's end, he had no less than three 'mentions' (London Gazette 1 January 1916, 4 January 1917 and 24 May 1918, refers) to go with his D.S.O., M.C. and Italian laurels, which also included a 4th Class Order of St Maurice & St Lazarus for his work with the War Graves Commission (London Gazette 4 June 1920, refers). His Medals were claimed from the Villa Moxhini, Longara in June 1920. Lowdy died on 28 February 1938 at Maida Vale, London; sold together with copied Service Record and MIC.

See Directing the Tunnellers’ War: The Tunnelling Memoirs of Captain H Dixon M.C., Royal Engineers for further references.

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Sold for
£3,500

Starting price
£2600