Four: Plumber F. W. Lowe, Royal Navy - latterly serving on H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert

British War Medal 1914-20 (166635 Pbr., R.N.); Coronation 1902, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to F. Lowe by H.M. King Edward VII’; Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (166635 Plumber, H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-250

Frederick William Lowe was born in Torquay, Devonshire in 1871. A Plumber by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as Plumber’s Mate on 29 March 1892, being promoted to Plumber in April 1893. Over the next few years he would serve as such aboard H.M. Ships Centurion, Boscawen and Duke of Wellington. In April 1900 Lowe joined the compliment of H.M. Yacht Victoria and Albert as Plumber. Except for a period of about three years during the war when he served at Victory II, his remaining 20+ years service in the Navy was aboard the Royal Yacht. During his service on the Yacht he was presented with two coronation medals and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1906. Lowe retired from the Navy in December 1923 and worked at the H.M. Dockyards at Portsmouth, 1924-35, most likely continuing to ply his trade as Plumber.

With copied service paper, census extract, copied photograph and other research.