Great Uncle Tom
I only learnt of my Great Uncle’s sad demise 14/11/40 earlier this year, as I was tracked down through the West Midlands Police Museum. They were looking for living relatives of his to attend a service, and the unveiling of the Roll of Honour at Lloyd House Birmingham for police officers whom had died in service. (Great Uncle Tom was brother to my grandmother. She and my Grandfather divorced either during the War or just after the end of the War. My father and his siblings were brought up by their father and step-mother. Grandmother moved to another City, hence contact being lost with her, and her extended family). My father was only 3 on the night of the Blitz, he passed away 3 years ago. He clearly never knew of this personal connection with the night of the Blitz. I have since been to the mass burial site at London Road and see Great Uncle Tom’s name acknowledged.
Thomas Rowland Lowry was the youngest of 6 children. Having 3 older sisters, and 2 older brothers. He worked at British Thomson-Houston Company Ltd. He was a member of the Police auxiliary messenger service. He was killed whilst on duty in Jordan Well where a bomb landed on the air raid shelter where he was taking refuge. He was aged 16. To date, he is the youngest serving Police officer within the West Midlands to die in service.
Julie Healy