Fireman and Trimmer John Lowery

Family details:
Son of the late Patrick and Ann Lowery, of Sutton St., St. Helens, Lancs.

Census details:
1881 - 21 years old 'Colliery Stoker' John is living at Pendlebury Cottages, Sutton, St Helens with parents Patrick (50), Ann (51) and two siblings: Patrick (18), Joseph (14). Records suggest John was in the Merchant Navy from 1888 onwards and was born at Rainhill.

The 11th of August 1918 at 19:45, 1.5 nautical mile west of St. Vito, Italian submarine F-7 or F-16 spotted SS Euterpe, she launched 3 torpedo's of which 2 reached their target, but only one exploded. The Torpedo had hit the middle of the ship and obstructed the quickest way to upper deck for the troops. Because of bad weather conditions and rough sea the ship started tilting to port side. Because of that and the weather it was impossible to lower life rafts. She sunk very rapidly. 435 solders and crew members lost their lives. SMS Magnet and Torpedo boats 55 and 64 saved about 450 soldiers, and the next morning British submarine C 210 saved 7 more solders and transported them to Venice. [pic]imgs/WW1_memorials/LoweryJohn_Euterpe.jpg[/pic][caption]The panel on the Tower Hill Memorial bearing the inscription for Fireman & Trimmer John Lowery Courtesy of Ste M.[/caption]