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Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe
CMG
File:Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe.jpg
Drury-Lowe in 1917
Born (1871-10-19)19 October 1871
Died 24 January 1945(1945-01-24) (aged 73)
Place of birth United Kingdom
Place of death St Annes-on-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Allegiance  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1891–1925
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands held
Battles/wars

Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe CMG (19 October 1871 – 24 January 1945) was a British vice-admiral of the Royal Navy. He is known for trapping and sinking the SMS Königsberg in the Battle of Rufiji Delta in the East African Campaign of World War I.

Biography[]

Sidney was born on 19 October 1871 in the United Kingdom.[3]

He began his military service as a Sub-Lieutenant on 14 May 1891 and was promoted to Lieutenant in on the same day in 1892.[4] In 1902 he participated in armor and shell experiments on the HMS Belleisle and was promoted to commander on 31 December.[5] However, Drury-Lowe was suspended from his post for "disturbances" in the Portsmouth naval barracks in 1906.[2] Drury-Lowe married Clare Susan Charteris in 1909 and had a daughter, Pamela Jocelyn, who was born in 1911.[3]

He was again promoted to captain on 30 June 1909.[6] In 1912,[7] Drury-Lowe took command of the light cruiser HMS Chatham and would command it during the East African Campaign of World War I. There he trapped the SMS Königsberg and eventually sunk it.[3] On 23 November, he was injured in his foot after exiting a boat in a seaway and temporarily transferred command to Raymond Fitzmaurice.[8]

Drury-Lowe became commander of the HMS Zealandia on 14 September 1916.[9] He temporarily went on to command the HMS Princess Royal from 9 October 1917, and handed it back to John Donald Kelly three months later.[2] Finally, he was named commander of the HMS Superb on 2 February 1918.[2] He became president of the Committee of Fire Control Tables from August 39, 1919, until 10 December 1920. Drury-Lowe was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 19 February 1920[10] and promoted to Vice-Admiral after his retirement on 12 August 1925.[11] He died from heart failure on 24 January 1945 at St Annes-on-Sea[3] and was cremated on 26 January.[12]

References[]

  1. CAPTAIN SIDNEY ROBERT DRURY-LOWE | Imperial War Museums
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Drury-Lowe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 214.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 For Sinners Only - Sidney Drury-Lowe | Book Lives
  4. "No. 26356". 23 December 1892. p. 7551. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26356/page/7551 
  5. "No. 27512". 2 January 1903. p. 4. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27512/page/4 
  6. "No. 28263". 25 June 1909. p. 4857. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28263/page/4857 
  7. The Navy List December 1916. p. 399
  8. HMS Chatham, light cruiser - British warships of World War 1
  9. The Navy List (December 1916), p. 399
  10. "No. 31802". 2 March 1920. p. 2463. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31802/page/2463 
  11. "No. 33077". 21 August 1925. p. 5563. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33077/page/5563 
  12. "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Friday, 26 January 1945. Issue 50051, col A, p. 1.

Bibliography[]

  • "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Friday, 26 January 1945. Issue 50051, col A, pg. 1.
  • "Vice-Admiral S. R. Drury-Lowe" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 27 January 1945. Issue 50052, col D, pg. 6.

External links[]

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