From the War - Cards from James Lowry

As I have written previously, when my mother-in-law died, my husband inherited a box of items that belonged to his mother, Shirley, and before her, to his grandmother, Winnie, and his great grandmother, Emma. You can read about Shirley, Winnie, Emma and the treasure box in my post Our Treasure Box.

James (about 1914)

Amongst the various items in the box, there are a number of cards sent home to New Zealand from James. These were sent to Winnie and Emma. Initially, we were uncertain about who James was. However, through a clue on one of the cards, it was possible to determine that James was James Patrick Lowry.

The correspondence suggests that James was a family friend who wrote not only to Winnie and Emma, but also to Winnie's step-father. In one of the cards to Winnie, James refers to having received a letter from Winnie's father and indicated his intention to write back.

Most of the cards are undated. Those that are dated, were sent during 1915. All were sent from Egypt while James was on active service during the First World War.

James Patrick Lowry

James was born in Whanganui, New Zealand on 31 May 1892, the son of Mary and John Stephen Lowry[1]. He was a little over 22 years old when, on 31 August 1914, he enlisted for First World War service with the Wellington Mounted Rifles. Mounted riflemen were essentially infantrymen on horseback. They were expected to ride to the scene of a battle and then, unlike traditional cavalry, dismount and go into action as normal infantrymen. 

At the time of enlistment, James was living in Wellington and working as a Salesman with the Union Steam Ship Company[2]. Winnie and Emma were also living in Wellington which may explain how he knew them. 

The Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment, along with the Auckland and Canterbury Rifle Regiments formed the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade. The Brigade left New Zealand on 15 October 1914. An Otago Mounted Rifle Regiment was also sent as a separate stand-alone unit. All of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles fought at Gallipoli in 1915[3].

 
As things turned out, while James did see action in Gallipoli, it was not with the Mounted Rifles. On 9 February 1915, James was transferred from the Mounted Rifles (service number 11/709) to the New Zealand Medical Corp (service number 3/709A). Then on 6 March 1915, James was attached to No. 1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company. It was with this Company that, on 12 April 1915, James embarked for the Dardanelles. He later transferred back to the New Zealand Medical Corps on 13 March 1916[4]. 

From the correspondence James had with Winnie, it appears that he was fond of her. At one stage, he refers to several letters that he has written to her. We cannot know exactly what their relationship was. He describes himself as ‘your pal’ but also sends a lot of love and kisses. It is likely that Winnie regarded him as a friend because during the time of the correspondence she was likely already ‘spoken for’. She married Bill Coop on 18 December 1915[5].

From Sidi Bishr, Alexandria

This card was written to Emma (Mrs Mumford) in June 1915 from Sidi Bishr, Alexandria in Egypt. It has a photo of James on the front of the card dressed in his Wellington Mounted Rifles uniform, complete with spurs:

Since James had transferred from the Wellington Rifles on 9 February 1915, it is likely the photo was taken in late 1914/early 1915, a few months before the card was sent.

James' message on the reverse of the card reads:

“Sidi Bishr

Alexandria

June 1915

To Dear Mrs Mumford

From James with my best wishes”

Shirley (Winnie’s daughter, Emma’s granddaughter) has written a message below James’ message. This appears to have been written for my husband’s benefit. Shirley wrote:

“Mrs Mumford was “Da” – your gt. Grandmother

James is a mystery, but an impressive photo”

Emma was known within the family as “Da”. That is what Shirley called her.

Shirley clearly didn't know who James was. The post war New Zealand addresses in James' military file are all South Island addresses[6] so it would not be surprising if he didn't reconnect with the family after the War.

From Alexandria, Egypt

This card was written on 12 August 1915 to Winnie while James was attached to the No.1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company. On the front of the card, there is a picture of the Ramleh Casino in Alexandria which was being used as a hospital:

On this card, it appears that James decided to practice some French he had learned. His message reads:

"Alexandria

August 12, 1915

4/709A [?] J Lowry

1st Field Co. NZE[F]

vous êtes très jolie, Winnie 

Dearest Winnie

Hoping you have received my letters safely. I have been down with rheumatism but am quite well now. I will soon be a grease-spot. I have got very thin you will see by a photo I have sent you they will be using me as a sword soon. Ramleh Casino is a hospital for the Indians and French from the Dardenelles. Received a letter from your father will write next mail

votre char garcon James" 

Initially, I missed an important clue about James’ identity on this card. However a response to an inquiry via social media pointed to the significance of "4/709A [?] J Lowry 1st Field Co."; something I should not have missed; 4/709A being a service number and J Lowry being James’ name. This was the important clue that provided us with James’ surname and enabled further research. Having said that, I have been unable to find the service number 4/709A in James’ military file. Presumably it was his service number while with the No. 1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company? His file refers only to 11/709 (Wellington Mounted Rifles) and 3/709A (New Zealand Medical Corps). It is clear from his file, though, that he was attached to the No. 1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company for most of 1915[7].

Another card to Winnie

As well as being undated, this card does not indicate James’ location at the time of writing. It is likely to have been written from Egypt during 1915. The front of the card has a photo of a camel caravan in the Sahara:

James has written:

“To Dearest Winnie

With best love and the sweetest of Kisses

From James

(your Balmy)” [you’re (?)]

Cards for Christmas

There are two cards sent for Christmas, one to Emma and one to Winnie. Both are undated. The card sent to Emma mentions the ANZACs in the Dardenelles. From this it is reasonable to conclude that the card was sent for Christmas 1915 given that: The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) combined with the Australian Imperial Force to form the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on 8 December 1914; and it was during 1915 that the ANZACs saw action in the Dardenelles as part of the Gallipoli campaign[8]:

 

Inside the card James has written:

“To Mrs Mumford From Your Dear Friend James”

The second Christmas card, this one to Winnie, was probably sent at the same time although it is difficult to say with any certainty:

In this card, James has written:

"Dear Winnie

Hoping this little card will bring your wishes true and give you the best of health. I am writing to all in N.Z. this mail something new for me you will say, never mind Winnie I am just the same old kid. Good luck to you my best love and kisses may your Happiness never fail you

Your Old Pal

XX James XXXX

XXX"

More about James

It isn’t clear why James was transferred. However, his military file shows that he had been in quite a lot of trouble towards the end of his time with the No. 1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company; receiving forfeiture of pay and field punishments:

• 7 October 2015 Insolence
• 19 November 2015 Insolence
• 13 December 2015 Refusing Duty
• 5 March 1916 Absent from Roll Call
• 7 March 1916 Absent from Defaulters Parade
• 8 March 1916 While on active service disobeying lawful commands of his superior officer in that he did not attend Defaulters Parade[9]. 

Perhaps his behaviour was a response to the action he had seen with the No. 1 New Zealand Engineers Field Company and a desire to help people rather than shoot them. Whatever, the case, it was clearly decided that a move to the New Zealand Medical Corps was the best place for him. He was transferred back on 13 March 1916. 

James embarked for France with the New Zealand Medical Corps on 6 April 1916. 

You can read more about James’ military service via the Auckland Museum Memorial Online Cenotaph[10] and his Official Military File[11]. 

James married French-born Elodie Jean Delaby during the war. They married at Nieppe, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France on 24 March 1917[12]. From his official military file[13], it appears that James’ wife spent the balance of the war in England and joined James in New Zealand after the War ended.

James left England to return home on 3 February 1919 aboard the ‘Athenic’. He was discharged from the Army, by then a Corporal, on 18 April 1919. James’ intended address at the time of discharge was Otira Railway, Otira.

Extract from Official Military File via Archives New Zealand

The address in his military file was later updated to: 24 Chapel Street, Greymouth[14]

In total, James First World War service totalled 4 years and 231 days; 76 days in New Zealand and 4 years 155 days overseas[15].

Extract from Official Military File via Archives New Zealand

James received the 1914-15 Star; British War medal and Victory medal.

After the War, James worked as a Railway clerk[16]. He died on 5 April 1967 in Christchurch at the age of 74. He was buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Christchurch (Block 1 D, Plot 339) on 7 April 1967[17].

Note: I have now moved my blogging efforts from this platform to WeAre.xyz so that I can integrate building my family history archive with blogging. This post, or an updated version of it, can be found at:   

https://app.weare.xyz/blog/the-dual-genealogist/blogposts/from-the-war-cards-from-james-lowry

Notes

[1] Birth Registration Number: 1892/9863 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website] Accessed 8 June 2022.

[2] James Lowry - Official Military record - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[3] Mountain Rifles units (p.1) Introduction via NZ History [Website]. Accessed 1 June 2022.

[4] James Lowry - Official Military File - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[5] Marriage Registration Number: 1915/5076 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website] Accessed 1 December 2021.  See also: Jane Chapman Wartime Correspondence from Bill to Winnie ((posted 4 December 2021) BJNL’s Genealogy [Accessed 1 June 2022). 

[6] James Lowry - Official Military record - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[7] James Lowry - Official Military record - See Note 6.

[8] The Gallipoli Campaign (p.8) Gallipoli Timeline via via NZ History [Website]. Accessed 1 June 2022.

[9] James Lowry - Official Military record - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[10] James Lowry - Online Cenotaph via Auckland War Memorial Museum [Website]

[11] James Lowry - Official Military record - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[12] The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Miscellaneous Foreign Marriage Returns; Class: RG 34; Piece: 8 Image via Ancestry.com. UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

[13] James Lowry - Official Military record - Collections Item ID:R110920865, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 8 June 2022

[14] James Lowry - Official Military record - See Note 13.

[15] James Lowry - Official Military record - See Note 13.

[16] Cemeteries Database [Digital Index] via Christchurch City Council [Website]

[17] Cemeteries Database [Digital Index] - See Note 16.