Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe

Vice-Admiral Sidney R. Drury-Lowe as a Captain, 1917.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Vice-Admiral Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe, C.M.G., Royal Navy, Retired (19 October, 1871 – 24 January, 1945) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

He was confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant dated 14 May, 1891. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 14 May, 1892.

In early 1902, Drury-Lowe assisted in the armour and shell experiments conducted against the old battleship Belleisle.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 31 December, 1902.

Though he was mentioned in despatches for services in Somaliland in 1903-4, a disturbance in the Portsmouth naval barracks resulted in a comment on 3 December, 1906 that, "Commander Sidney R. Drury-Lowe, as second-in-command of the barracks, has failed in the performance of his duties as executive officer, and will be superseded."

A photo of him posing with other officers aboard H.M.S. Magnificent c. mid 1907 shows his left arm in a sling. His service record does not appear to record the reason for this.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1909.

Drury-Lowe was appointed in command of the light cruiser Chatham on 11 July, 1912. On 23 November, 1915, after injuring his foot when exiting a boat in a seaway, he temporarily handed command to Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Zealandia on 14 September, 1916.

He was appointed in temporary command of Princess Royal on 9 October, 1917, handing command back over to Captain John D. Kelly less than 3 months later.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Superb on 2 February, 1918.

Post-War

Drury-Lowe was appointed as President of the Committee of Fire Control Tables on 30 August, 1919. He stepped down on 10 December, 1920.

Drury-Lowe was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 19 February, 1920, vice Caulfeild. He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the retired List on the Retired List on 12 August, 1925.

Drury-Lowe died at St. Annes-on-Sea of heart failure on 24 January, 1945 aged seventy-three. He left a widow, Clare, of 103 Hamilton Terrace, London, N.W.8. He was cremated privately on 26 January.

Bibliography

• "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Friday, 26 January, 1945. Issue 50051, col A, pg. 1.
• "Vice-Admiral S. R. Drury-Lowe" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 27 January, 1945. Issue 50052, col D, pg. 6.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/89.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/43.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Alexander L. Duff	Captain of H.M. T.B. 74 21 Jul, 1892 – Aug, 1892	Succeeded by Reginald A. Norton
Preceded by George P. W. Hope	Captain of H.M.S. Kite 19 Apr, 1900 – c. 4 Jul, 1902[Inference]	Succeeded by Hubert Lynes
Preceded by William D. Church	Captain of H.M.S. Diadem 24 Jun, 1910 – before 30 Jul, 1910	Succeeded by George C. Hardy
Preceded by Thomas D. Pratt	Captain of H.M.S. Spartiate 4 Apr, 1912 – 11 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Alldin U. Moore
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Chatham 11 Jul, 1912 – 29 Mar, 1916	Succeeded by Raymond Fitzmaurice
Preceded by Richard M. Harbord	Captain of H.M.S. Zealandia 14 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Ernest G. H. Du Boulay
Preceded by John D. Kelly	Captain of H.M.S. Princess Royal 9 Oct, 1917 – 30 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by John D. Kelly
Preceded by E. Hyde Parker	Captain of H.M.S. Superb 2 Jan, 1918 – 3 Apr, 1918	Succeeded by Stephen H. Radcliffe
Preceded by George H. Borrett	Captain of H.M.S. Monarch 7 Apr, 1918 – 30 Aug, 1919	Succeeded by George B. Powell