Henry was born in Glasgow on 26 July 1897, the second child of Charles and Mary Anne (née Hamilton) Lowe, his elder brother Charles (1895) completing the family unit.

Henry joined the Royal Navy when he passed through the gates of HMS GANGES the “Boy Training Estalishment” in Shotley, Suffolk, on 21 November 1912 and signed as a Boy Second Class. On 25 May 1913 he was advanced to Boy First Class with a draft to HMS GRAFTON on 26 May. On 6 September he had his first visit to HMS VICTORY in Portsmouth for 2 months then joining HMS FEARLESS on 14 October 1913 to 23 May 1915. He was then loaned for 2 months to HMS CYCLOPS where he was advanced to Ordinary Telegraphist before returning to FEARLESS on 21 June 1915. He was rated up to Telegraphist on 12 November 1915 and on 17 July 1916 was drafted to GREENWICH (HMS BOTHA) where he gained the rate of Leading Telegraphist on 12 March 1917, followed by a draft to HMS DOLPHIN to qualify for submarine service. Upon completion he undertook the long journey North on 5 June 1917 for HMS LUCIA, depot ship for the “10th Submarine Flotilla” based on the River Tees and he joined HMS G8.

G8 departed from the River Tees on the 27 December 1917 in company with HMS G12 to patrol in the Kattegat area between Denmark and Sweden. On 3 January 1918 a recall signal was sent out though it is not possible to say if G8 received this message. She did not arrive back as ordered on the 6 January and she was “Declared Missing”  on the 14 January 1918. In 2019 a wreck was found and verified as G8 at a depth of 100m (330ft) in the Skaggerak North of Hirtshals with no apparent damage to the hull and planes set at rise angles. The exact date and cause of loss is unknown. For administration purposes she was declared lost on 14 January 1918, however it seems that this official date was subsequently changed to 3 January.

Leadig Telegraphist Henry Lowe, Svc No. J21234 “Crossed The Bar” with 31 of his shipmates. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel 29.