From Ponsonby's History of the 'Grenadier Guards in the Great War 1914-1918' The Somme, 25th September 1916

"As the King's Company advanced and took the third objective, its commander, Captain Drury-Lowe, was killed by a shell while he was consulting Captain Hargreaves of the Irish Guards. He had alraedy gained the DSO in the artillery battery in which he had fought through the first years of the war, and would have no doubt have earned further distinction had he lived, for he was a man without fear and a worthy commander of the King's Company."

William Drury Drury-Lowe 1878-1916 (Portrait courtesy of Mrs. L. Palmer (nee Drury-Lowe) of Locko Park)

William was the eldest son of William Drury Nathaniel Drury-Lowe, formerly Holden, who assumed the name and arms of Lowe in 1849 on inheriting Locko, and the additional surname of Drury in 1884. He was born at 19 Portman Square, London, and educated at Eton. In February 1900 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. He served with its 3rd Battalion in South Africa from 1901-1902. He succeeded his father to the Locko estates in 1906,and in July 1908 resigned from the army in the rank of Captain. Right after this, he he entered the Territorial Force and rebadged as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. According to the Distinguished Service Order Book he had commanded the 2nd Derbyshire Battery, 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery for 7 years and accompanied it to France as Major. In February 1915 he was appointed to command the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade but instead requested to rejoin his old Regiment and though he had a promotion he got his way and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards in 1916. He was so attached to his old Regiment that he (as witnessed above) dropped a rank from Major (brevet Lieutenant Colonel) to Captain. He was killed in action on the Somme in command of the King's Company, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards on 25 September 1916. His estates passed to his younger brother John A.E. Drury-Lowe. He married in 1902 the Hon. Hylda Harriet Marianne Sugden. There was no issue from this marriage.

The Wilkinson Sword Ledger proved 15th November 1899 for WD Drury-Lowe, Grenadier Guards