Albert David “Alby” Lowerson VC

b. 02/08/1896 Myrtleford, Australia. d. 15/12/1945 Myrtleford, Australia.

Albert D “Alby” Lowerson VC

Albert David “Alby” Lowerson (1896-1945) was born on 2nd August 1896 at Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia. He was known as Alby. His father, Henry “Harry” Lowerson, was born in Great Lumley, County Durham. He emigrated to Australia with his mother and siblings. They departed from Liverpool on 29th August 1862 aboard the King of Algeria and arrived at Melbourne, Victoria on 1st November. He settled at Myrtleford, Victoria and was variously employed as an engine driver, farmer and miner. He married Mary Jane McMaster on 4th August 1880 at Myrtleford, where she was born. Alby had seven siblings.

Alby worked as a labourer, farmer and gold dredge worker at Adelong, New South Wales. He passed a medical for the AIF at Myrtleford on 12th July 1915 and enlisted at Melbourne on 16th July with his parents’ permission. He was posted to 53 Company on 19th July and to 5th Reinforcements, 21st Battalion on 2nd August. On 27th September he embarked for the Middle East at Melbourne, disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt and moved to camp at Heliopolis.

He joined his unit on 7th January 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir. The unit embarked at Alexandria for Marseille, France on 17th March, arriving on 24th March. He was quickly recommended for the Military Medal, but this was not granted. On 26th August he was wounded in the right hand and throat at Pozieres and was evacuated to No 49 Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen on 28th August, to 2nd Convalescent Depot on 3rd September and to 2nd Australian Base Depot, Etaples on 13th September.

Alby was appointed temporary corporal on 29th October, was promoted corporal on 1st November and was appointed temporary sergeant on 11th April 1917. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left arm at Bullecourt on 3rd May and reverted to corporal. The wound put him out of action for several months, and he didnt re-join his unit until 26th October. He was promoted sergeant on 1st November. He then distinguished himself on 27th August at Virgin Wood and on 28th August at Herbecourt.

Lowerson earned the Victoria Cross on 1st September during the capture of Mont St Quentin. He was cited for his leadership and courage during the battle, particularly for his effective bombing of the strong point which was the centre of stern resistance: a huge crater from which machine-guns fired and stick-bombs were hurled. He inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans and captured twelve machine-guns and thirty prisoners. Although wounded in the thigh he refused to withdraw until the prisoners had been sent to the rear and the posts of his men had been organized and consolidated. He then refused to leave the battalion for two days until evacuated because of his wound. He resumed duty on 17th September in time to participate in the last Australian infantry action of the war, at Montbrehain on 5 October where he was wounded for the fourth time. He received the Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 1st March 1919; a month later he embarked for Australia and was discharged on 8th July.

Between the wars Lowerson was a dairy and tobacco farmer on a Victorian soldier settlement block. He named his property, on Merriang estate near Myrtleford, St Quentin. He married Edith Larkins at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on 1st February 1930. They lived at St Quentin, Myrtleford, Victoria and had two daughters – Margaret and Frances.

Alby attended the Anzac Dinner on 23rd April 1927 alongside 22 other VCs. On 5th July 1940 he re-enlisted in the Australian Military Forces in Melbourne and joined 2nd Infantry Training School, Caulfield, Victoria as a sergeant. He was posted to the Recruit Depot, Fyansford, Victoria on 17th August and to 6th Training Battalion, Darley, Victoria on 23rd August. He overstayed leave from midnight on 20th September until 8am on 22nd September, for which he was reprimanded. He was transferred to 2/8th Training Battalion, Darley on 8th January 1941. On 22nd January 1942 he was posted to the Guerrilla Warfare Training Centre, Foster, Victoria, arriving on 25th January. He remained in service until 10th August 1944.

He suffered from leukemia and a War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal on 3rd January 1945 decided that it was caused by his war service and he was entitled to a war pension. He was treated at the Repatriation General Hospital Caulfield with X-Ray therapy in March and April 1945. Alby died of cachexia exhaustion and chronic myeloid leukaemia at his home at St Quentin, Merriang Estate, Myrtleford on 15th December 1945. He is buried in Myrtleford Pioneer Cemetery. A headstone erected in September 1949, unveiled by William Joynt VC. The ceremony was also attended by Albert Borella VC.

Alby is commemorated with Lowerson Place in Canberra, on the VC recipients plaque in Campbell, ACT, with Lowerson Street in Myrtleford, Lowerson Close, Melbourne, Lowerson Avenue in Wodonga, Victoria, on the VC memorial at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne. He is also named on the North Bondi War Memorial, on the VC Memorial in Sydney, on the VC Memorial in Ingleburn RSL, Sydney. He also has a VC commemorative stone at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Alby’s widow attended the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park, London in 1956. In addition to his VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45 and George VI Coronation Medal 1937. The VC was presented to the Australian War Memorial by his daughter, Frances on 1st September 1987.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA.

BURIAL PLACE: MYRTLEFORD CEMETERY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.