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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Natal, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (2451 Gnr: J. Burns, Durham R.G.A.)

John Burns was born in Jarrow in 1870 and attested at Hartlepool on 3 May 1894 for the Durham (Militia) Royal Garrison Artillery. Embarked for service in South Africa 24 March 1900, he is recorded as slightly wounded on 26 September 1901 at Fort Prospect; strongly attacked in the early hours by a force of 400 burghers commanded by Major-General J. J. C. Emmett, the small complement of 50 men of the Durham Militia Artillery - bolstered by 35 men of the Mounted Infantry and a small party of Zululand Police - successfully held out against a superior Boer force. The stoic defence was later recognised with the award of the DSO to Captain Rowley and DCM to Company Sergeant Major Young.

Picture courtesy of Spink

CMG n/b;
SDO GV;
Ashanti 1900 (0) (Lieut: C. F. G. Page. R.A.);
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: C. F. G. Page, R.G.A.);
1914-15 Star (Cap. C. F. G. Page. R.G.A.);
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Lt. Col. C. F. G. Page.)
Italy, Al Valore Militare, silver issue;
Italy, Kingdom, War Merit Cross, bronze issue

CMG London Gazette 3 June 1919.

DSO London Gazette 3 June 1916.

Al Valore London Gazette 25 March 1918.

War Merit Cross London Gazette 21 August 1919.

Cuthbert Frederick Graham Page was born on 21 January 1880, Newcastle, son of Margret and Professor Frederick Page. Attending Clifton College he matriculated to Pembroke College, Cambridge, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 4th (Cambridge University) Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 24 January 1900. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 17 February 1900 with Royal Garrison Artillery he was one of four Royal Artillery officer to be seconded as a Special Service Officer to the Ashanti Expedition in 1900.

Upon the end of the expedition, he joined the 97th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery for service in the Anglo Boer War. Promoted Lieutenant on 3 April 1901 while still serving in that role, Page remained in the theatre until the end of the war. After the end of hostilities, he was appointed as ADC to the Governor of St. Helena, taking up the post in in 1903. Despite this he did return to South Africa to marry in 1904.

Returning to Britain after the appointment he was seconded to the Volunteers as Adjutant of the 1st Fifeshire Royal Garrison Artillery on 23 January 1907. With the creation of the Territorial Force Page was transferred to the Adjutancy of the North Scottish Royal Garrison Artillery, still on secondment, from 1 April 1908. Promoted Captain on 15 March 1911 he attended Gunnery Staff Course on 27 September 1913, a course which was to stand him in good stead during the war.

On the outbreak of war Page returned to active service and entered the war in France on 17 July 1915. He served there for a year, being awarded the DSO for his efforts and earning a ‘mention’ to go with it (London Gazette 15 June 1916). Soon after returning to Britian, he was appointed 3rd Assistant Superintendent with the Experimental Staff on 11 March 1916. Here his staff training came into good effect however he was still eager for active service.

Gaining an appointment to the 94th Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery he landed in Italy in March 1917. Appointed Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 2 January 1918 he was given command of a battery in Italy and was awarded the Italian Al Valore Medal in early 1918.

Unfortunately, Page was seriously injured in the final days of the war, returning to Britian he died on 6 December 1919. Buried at Heene Cemetery he was twice further ‘mentioned’ for his services (London Gazette 6 January 1919 and 5 June 1919) and received the Italian Bronze Cross later in the year, he was further appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Micheal and St. George in 1920.

Picture courtesy of Spink

Ashantee 1873 (Lieut: W. G. Lowther. 17th Bde. R. A. 1873-74).

AGS 1902 (1) N. Nigeria 1903 (Lieut: E. St. G. Lowther. 2nd N.N. Regt.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: E. St. G. Lowther, R.F.A.)

1914 Star with clasp (2. Lieut: T. B. Lowther. Lan: Fus.);
British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. T. B. Lowther.)

William Gorges Lowther was born at Shrigley Hall, Shrigley Park, Cheshire on 11 February1850, the son of the Reverand Brabazon and Ellen Lowther. Educated at Cheltenham College where he rowed with the College Boat he later joined the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich on 2 February 1869. Commissioned Lieutenant on 4 January 1871 with the Royal Field Artillery. Posted first to the Gold Coast in 1873 he was well placed for service the Second Ashanti War. Here he was one of 53 men of the 17th Brigade and one of only three officers with the unit although some others served attached to different formations. Lowther was later to see further service in India.

Promoted Captain on 9 February 1881 and later Advanced Major on 29 October 1886, his final promotion came with a secondment to the Admiralty where he was engaged as a gunnery instructor. Further promoted Lieutenant-Colonel upon his return on 11 November 1893 and retired the following year, being appointed commander of the Devon Artillery Militia while retired on 8 May 1894. Not long after his retirement tragedy struck when his eldest son, Sub-Lieutenant William Ernest Lowther drowned while serving with H.M.S. Alarm. The elder Lowther retired to the family home of Shrigley Park and died on 25 April 1928. He was survived by his elder brother, the diplomat Sir Henry Lowther, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., a recipient of the Order of the Dannebrog; sold together with copied Burke's Landed Gentry entry and handwritten notes.


Edward St. George Lowther was born at Limerick, Ireland, the son of William Gorges Lowther of Shrigley Park. Joining the Devon Artillery Militia as 2nd Lieutenant on 1 February 1898 he transferred to the Royal Artillery on 22 December of that year. Promoted Lieutenant with the Royal Artillery on 16 February 1899 it was in this rank that he entered the Anglo Boer War.

Noted as severely wounded he was also 'mentioned' in Lord Roberts' dispatch of 1901 (London Gazette 4 September 1901). With the end of the war Lowther was posted to the North Nigeria Regiment for service in the expedition of 1903. This endeavour saw British troops fighting between Sokoto and Birmi through the Spring and Summer of 1903.

Lowther was promoted Captain on 21 September 1906 and served with the Egyptian Army. He died in Marseilles as a result of the wounds he had sustained in South Africa; sold together with copied newspaper entry and extract from the South African War 1899-2902 as well as handwritten notes.


Thomas Beresford Lowther was born at Southend-on-Sea on 9 April 1890, the son of William Gorges Lowther. Educated at Cheltenham College between May 1904-July 1908, he was later commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 4 February 1904 with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Appointed to a permanent commission with the same unit on 14 August 1914 he entered the war in France on 8 December 1914, attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Invalided home later in the month he was promoted Lieutenant on 17 February 1915 and re-joined the Lancashire Fusiliers. Posted for service with the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli in April 1915 Lowther was part of an attack at Achi Baba on 4 June 1915. He was killed during the fighting. A confusion by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission led to him being commemorated upon the Menin Gate Memorial however this has since been amended and he is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial.