Name
Harold Ayling Low
15th April 1890.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/14347
King's Royal Rifle Corps.
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 61 to 64.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Walden Village Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Kings Walden,
Not on the Knebworth (New) memorials81
Pre War
Harold Ayling Low was born in Lower Clapton, Hackney, Middlesex on 15th April 1890, the son of William Thomas Low (B 1859, in Colney Heath, Herts) and Julia Matilda Low (nee Ayling) (B 1862, in East Meon, Hants). The eldest of five children. His father was a Police Constable and on his retirement from the police force around 1911 he became the landlord of the Queens Head in Breachwood Green, Herts.
Harold was Baptised at All Saints, Clapton Park, Hackney, Middlesex on 19th October 1890. At the time of his baptism the family lived at 22 Clifden Road, Clapton, Hackney, Middlesex.
He attended Birch Green school and Cowper Testimonial School, Hertford.
1891 Census records Harold aged 11 years (this should be 11 months) living with his parents, in Wratten Road, Hitchin, Herts.
By 1901 the family had moved again due to his farther being a Police Constable, they are now living in Cole Green, Hertingfordbury, Herts. Harold aged 10, John 9, Lily B 7, and Albert 1.
1911 Census records Harold working as a Railway Clerk for The Great Northern Railway Company, living with his mother, brothers John 19, Albert 11, sisters Lily 17 and Edna 5, at Grantham Cottage, Milestone Road, Knebworth, Herts. His father was away from home on the night of the Census.
Wartime Service
At the time of his enlistment he was working as a Railway Clark for The Great Northern Railway Company and living in Hitchin Road, Arlesey, Beds. His service record records he was given written permission the leave the G.N.R. Company to enlist for military service.
He enlisted in London in July 1915. Posted to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps with the service No R/14347.
Landing in France in December 1915.
Harold was Killed in Action; his service record records his death was officially accepted as 21st March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the CWGC Pozieres Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
His effects of £9-13s-6d, pay owing and £15-10s-0d, went to his father William Thomas Low.
*1 This Harold is is not the man who appears on various Knebworth memorials as the information appearing there confirms that he was in the Royal Navy and his details have been found. The date of death appearing here (detailed below) identifies this man, another Harold Low, this man, is also commemorated on the family grave in Knebworth (St. Martin) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO HAROLD LOW, DIED MARCH 21ST 1918, AGED 27.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
