Hugh Mosman Lowe

The Lowe family emigrated to Melbourne from Aberdeen in 1901 and the four boys each came to prominence as players with the strong St. Kilda club. In 1910, Tommy became club captain at the ripe old age of 21. Alexander was appointed treasurer and assistant secretary and also kept goal for the club at the age of 20 in 1913. The oldest, Bert, played for the club and represented it as a delegate to the association. 

Hughie, the youngest, was only starting his senior career, playing for the 2nd team at the outbreak of war. While each brother eventually enlisted, Hughie beat the others to the punch by joining the 9th Battalion very early in the war. As a result of this haste Hughie was caught up in the fighting in the Dardenelles and died less than six weeks into the Gallipoli campaign on 3 June 1915.

As reported in the Argus 8 July 1915,

PRIVATE HUGH MOSMAN LOWE (died of wounds) aged 18 years, was the youngest son of Mrs. Lowe of Luira, Glen Eira road, Ripponlea. Born at Aberdeen, Scotland, he came to Australia with the rest of the family some 14 years ago. Just prior to the departure of the First Contingent he enlisted and took the place of a deserter in the Queensland forces. He received his wounds in the now famous charge of the “Ninth,” whilst storming the heights of Gallipoli, and was sent to Alexandria Base Hospital. He was wounded in both the chest and abdomen, which necessitated an operation, and was progressing favourably when hemorrhage set in, which proved fatal, and he passed away on June 3, and now lies buried in the Military Cemetery at Chatby, near Alexandria, Egypt. His two elder brothers are now on their way to the fighting line.

The other brothers all returned safely, Tommy and Bert both being decorated for bravery. The three survivors resumed playing with St Kilda but it is safe to assume that the loss of Hughie weighed heavily on family and club alike.

His death also left another significant gap (of the more than 70 killed and countless injured beyond recovery) in the booming culture that had been Victorian pre-war soccer.