Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

William was the eldest son of William Drury Nathaniel Drury-Lowe, formerly Holden, who assumed the name and arms of Lowe in 1849 on inheriting Locko, and the additional surname of Drury in 1884. He was born at 19 Portman Square, London, and educated at Eton. In February 1900 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. He served with the 3rd Battalion in South Africa from 1901-1902 and was decorated with the D.S.O. He succeeded his father to the Denby and Locko estates in 1906, and in July 1908 resigned from the army at the rank of Captain. William was a J.P. for Derbyshire from 1907 and a Derbyshire County Councillor in 1913-1914. On the outbreak of the First World War William became a Captain in the Reserve of Officers. He was killed in action at the Somme on 25 September 1916. His estates passed to his younger brother John A.E. Drury-Lowe. On 25th September 1916 the 1/Grenadier Guards were pushed forward past Morval. By 15.30hrs they had achieved their objective and threw out a protective flank along the sunken road leading towards Guedecourt. During this action Major DRURY-LOWE was killed.

From Ponsonby's History of the 'Grenadier Guards in the Great War 1914-1918' The Somme, 25th September 1916: "As the King's Company advanced and took the third objective, its commander, Captain Drury-Lowe, was killed by a shell while he was consulting Captain Hargreaves of the Irish Guards. He had already gained the DSO in the artillery battery in which he had fought through the first years of the war, and would have no doubt have earned further distinction had he lived,for he was a man without fear and a worthy commander of the King's Company."

Source: "Satsuma": "William was the eldest son of William Drury Nathaniel Drury-Lowe, formerly Holden, who assumed the name and arms of Lowe in 1849 on inheriting Locko, and the additional surname of Drury in 1884. He was born at 19 Portman Square, London, and educated at Eton. In February 1900 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. He served with its 3rd Battalion in South Africa from 1901-1902. He succeeded his father to the Locko estates in 1906,and in July 1908 resigned from the army in the rank of Captain. Right after this, he he entered the Territorial Force and rebadged as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. According to the Distinguished Service Order Book he had commanded the 2nd Derbyshire Battery, 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery for 7 years and accompanied it to France as Major. In February 1915 he was appointed to command the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade but instead requested to rejoin his old Regiment and though he had a promotion he got his way and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards in 1916. He was so attached to his old Regiment that he (as witnessed above) dropped a rank from Major (brevet Lieutenant Colonel) to Captain. He was killed in action on the Somme in command of the King's Company, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards on 25 September 1916. His estates passed to his younger brother John A.E. Drury-Lowe. He married in 1902 the Hon. Hylda Harriet Marianne Sugden. There was no issue from this marriage."

See also: The "Satsuma" Blogs.

Masonic :

Joining member of Tyrian Lodge No. 253 on 28th June 1914.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley