While researching the Lowcock surname I came across Private William Mackenzie Lowcock was a Private in World War II, was captured by the Japanese and was a Prisoner of War (POW). Bill survived the war, married, and raised a family in Australia. Bill’s story is available to buy on Amazon (both as a Kindle and or print edition).
In honor of his memory and service, I am sharing the information I discovered. Bill is my 2nd cousin, 2x removed.
Private William (Bill) Mackenzie Lowcock
Birth: 24th May 1920 Sydney, NSW
Death: 28th June 2006 Nambour, Queensland (source) age 86
Grave: Kulangoor Lawn Cemetery, Queensland
Next of Kin: Harry Lowcock (courtesy National Archives of Australia, relationship unknown)
Rank: Private
Service Number: NX10682
Unit: Administration HQ 2/19 Infantry Battalion (see also Orders of Battle)
Conflict: World War II
Military Service
Private William (Bill) Mackenzie Lowcock was an Australian soldier who served in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. He was captured by the Japanese (source) and as a Prisoner of War was forced to work on the Burma Railway. Bill married Mavis (nee Walker) and they raised a family.
Private Bill Lowcock is recorded on a Prisoner of War Memorial in Ballarat.
The initials RTA are after the name of Bill and other prisoners, meaning “Repatriated to Australia”.
Bill Lowcock’s War Story
Bill recorded his experiences as an Australian in Singapore during World War II and as a Prisoner of War working on the Thai-Burma Railway.
Private Lowcock’s memoir is available to buy on Amazon.
I never met Bill Lowcock but according to my research on Ancestry research, we are related. From my amateur family history on the Lowcock surname, Bill is my second cousin, twice removed. If you are an immediate family of Bill Lowcock, please contact me.
I also have research on other Lowcock’s who served on the Lowcock War Memorial pages.
Family History
Bill Lowcock married Mavis Walker and eventually settled in Maroochydore. Mavis predeceased Bill by a year (Mavis 23.12.1920 – 08.07.2005).
There’s a photo on the National Library of Australia of Bill and Mavis’s daughter Judy Lowcock celebrating her birthday in 1964. Bill and Mavis Lowcock built the filtered pool on the riverbank in front of Roselea Motel in the early 1960s. The Lowcock’s had purchased the property, including Roselea Flats, in circa 1957. In about 1961 they demolished the flats and erected the Roselea Motel on the site by early 1962 Bill Lowcock is credited as part of the Chamber of Commerce who came up with the name of the Sunshine Coast.
Source Material:
- Private Bill Lowcock’s War Story (see below)
- Australian War Memorial Collection, photo of Private Bill Lowcock, and other photos
- National Archives of Australia
- Rootsweb Funeral Notices
Bill Lowcock’s War Story
The diary of Bill Lowcock’s experience is available on Amazon as a Kindle book, you can purchase it here.
Lowcock Family History
If you would like to learn more about the Lowcock surname and family history, please visit the Lowcock History page.
You can learn more about Lowcock Genealogy, or specific Lowcock family member:
- Lowcock Plough: a type of turnwrest plough, invented by Henry Lowcock
- Lowcock’s Lemonade: a soft drink brand
- Lowcock Mill: a hydro-electric mill located in Linton, Yorkshire
- Lowcock Fuel Economiser: for fuel efficiency in steam engines
- Lowcock Razor: a straight razor, made by George Lowcock
- Lowcock Dairy: a Dairy located in Pendleton, UK.
- Lowcock Freemason: Bro. H. Lowcock, a Freemason
- Lowcock Hong Kong: Henry Lowcock, Sydney James Lowcock and the Lowcock name in Hong Kong
- Arthur Lowcock and Blackpool Tower: a director of the company that built Blackpool Tower
- Bill Lowcock: an Australian World War II veteran, I self-published his story to preserve it for future generations.
- CF Lowcock (Charles Frederick): A British painter from the Victorian/Edwardian era
- Joyce Lowcock: A playwright
- Lowcock War Memorial: pages dedicated to all those with the Lowcock surname who served.
If you are researching Lowcock Family History and can help – visit the help needed page. If you want to understand the distribution of the Lowcock surname in the UK, visit the Lowcock map page. Just interested in the images and photos? Visit the Lowcock Genealogy Pinterest page.
This page is maintained by Joshua Lowcock.