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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 68

A remarkable family collection to two generations of the Lowther's of Shrigley Park

Ashantee 1873-74 (Lieut: W. G. Lowther. 17th Bde. R. A. 1873-74), light pitting, minor edge bruises, very fine

Pair: Lieutenant E. St. G. Lowther, Royal Field Artillery, who was seriously wounded and 'mentioned' during the Boer War: going on to serve in Northern Nigeria he never fully recovered from his wounds, dying as a result in 1907

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria 1903 (Lieut: E. St. G. Lowther. 2nd N.N. Regt.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: E. St. G. Lowther, R.F.A.), minor contact wear, very fine

Three: Lieutenant T. B. Lowther, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action at Gallipoli in June 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: T. B. Lowther. Lan: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. T. B. Lowther.), good very fine (6)

William Gorges Lowther was born at Shrigley Hall, Shrigley Park, Cheshire on 11 February1850, the son of the Reverand Brabazon and Ellen Lowther. Educated at Cheltenham College where he rowed with the College Boat he later joined the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich on 2 February 1869. Commissioned Lieutenant on 4 January 1871 with the Royal Field Artillery. Posted first to the Gold Coast in 1873 he was well placed for service the Second Ashanti War. Here he was one of 53 men of the 17th Brigade and one of only three officers with the unit although some others served attached to different formations. Lowther was later to see further service in India.

Promoted Captain on 9 February 1881 and later Advanced Major on 29 October 1886, his final promotion came with a secondment to the Admiralty where he was engaged as a gunnery instructor. Further promoted Lieutenant-Colonel upon his return on 11 November 1893 and retired the following year, being appointed commander of the Devon Artillery Militia while retired on 8 May 1894. Not long after his retirement tragedy struck when his eldest son, Sub-Lieutenant William Ernest Lowther drowned while serving with H.M.S. Alarm. The elder Lowther retired to the family home of Shrigley Park and died on 25 April 1928. He was survived by his elder brother, the diplomat Sir Henry Lowther, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., a recipient of the Order of the Dannebrog; sold together with copied Burke's Landed Gentry entry and handwritten notes.

Edward St. George Lowther was born at Limerick, Ireland, the son of William Gorges Lowther of Shrigley Park. Joining the Devon Artillery Militia as 2nd Lieutenant on 1 February 1898 he transferred to the Royal Artillery on 22 December of that year. Promoted Lieutenant with the Royal Artillery on 16 February 1899 it was in this rank that he entered the Anglo Boer War.

Noted as severely wounded he was also 'mentioned' in Lord Roberts' dispatch of 1901 (London Gazette 4 September 1901). With the end of the war Lowther was posted to the North Nigeria Regiment for service in the expedition of 1903. This endeavour saw British troops fighting between Sokoto and Birmi through the Spring and Summer of 1903.

Lowther was promoted Captain on 21 September 1906 and served with the Egyptian Army. He died in Marseilles as a result of the wounds he had sustained in South Africa; sold together with copied newspaper entry and extract from the South African War 1899-2902 as well as handwritten notes.

Thomas Beresford Lowther was born at Southend-on-Sea on 9 April 1890, the son of William Gorges Lowther. Educated at Cheltenham College between May 1904-July 1908, he was later commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 4 February 1904 with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Appointed to a permanent commission with the same unit on 14 August 1914 he entered the war in France on 8 December 1914, attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Invalided home later in the month he was promoted Lieutenant on 17 February 1915 and re-joined the Lancashire Fusiliers. Posted for service with the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli in April 1915 Lowther was part of an attack at Achi Baba on 4 June 1915. He was killed during the fighting. A confusion by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission led to him being commemorated upon the Menin Gate Memorial however this has since been amended and he is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial; sold together with typed research, a photograph of the Menin Gate Memorial and an extract from De Ruvigney's Roll of Honour.

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Sold for
£2,100

Starting price
£520