Victoria Cross : Sergeant A D Lowerson, 21 Battalion, AIF Accession Number: REL/15668.001

Description

Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse suspender with recipient's details; engraved reverse cross with date of action.

Contextual Description

Albert David 'Alby' Lowerson was born at Myrtleford, Victoria on 2 August 1896. He had been prospecting for gold at Adelong, New South Wales when he enlisted in July 1915 as private 2358. For his work at Armentieres and Pozières in 1916 he was unsuccessfully recommended for the Military Medal.

At Mont St Quentin Lowerson was cited for his 'conspicuous bravery and tactical skill'. His bold actions included bombing a German strongpoint which was holding up the attack. With a small team he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and captured 12 machine-guns and 30 prisoners. Badly wounded in the thigh, he refused to leave his position until the prisoners had been sent to the rear, and the post had been consolidated. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The recommendation for the award reads:

'At MT. ST.QUENTIN North of PERONNE on the 1st Sept., 1918, this N.C.O. displayed courage and tactical skill of the very highest order during the attack on this village.

Very strong opposition was met with early in the attack and every foot of ground was stubbornly contested by the enemy located in very strong positions. This N.C.O.'s example during the fighting was of the greatest value. He moved about, regardless of the heavy enemy machine gun fire, directing his men, encouraging them to still greater effort and finally led them on to the objective.

On reaching the objective he saw that the left attacking party had not met with success, and that the attack was held up by an enemy Strong Post heavily manned with 12 M.G.'s. Under the heaviest sniping and machine gun fire Sgt. LOWERSON rallied seven men around him into a storming party, and deployed them to attack the post from both flanks, one party of three being killed immediately.

He himself then rushed the strong post and, with effective bombing, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and captured the post containing 12 machine guns and 30 Prisoners.

Though severely wounded in the right thigh he refused to leave the front line until the prisoners had been despatched to the rear, and the organisation and consolidation of the post by our men had been completed. When he saw that the position was thoroughly secure he returned to the rear, but refused to leave the Battalion until forced to evacuate two days later by the seriousness of his wound.

This act was the culminating point of a series of most gallant performances by this N.C.O. during the fighting extending over a week.
His leadership and example had a continual influence on the men serving under him, whilst his prompt and effective action at a critical juncture allowed the forward movement to be carried on without delay, thus ensuring the success of the attack.'

During his service Lowerson was wounded on four occasions and finally returned to Australia in 1919 and was discharged as medically unfit. Following the war he returned to Myrtleford, where he took up a property he named 'St Quentin'.

After serving again during the Second World War, he once more returned to Mytleford where he died on 15 December 1945.

Lowerson’s Victoria Cross is accompanied by service medals for the First and Second World Wars and the King George VI Coronation Medal.