George Rivers LOWNDES (1862–1943)

George Rivers Lowndes (1862–1943) was an Anglo-Indian lawyer and judge whom Cyril Sladden met in Simla in 1916 whilst recuperating from a war wound.  Cyril stayed with him for over a month at his residence, Windcliffe, in Simla.  A letter of 28th June 1916 reveals that Mr Lowndes was something of a botanist and keen gardener.

George Lowndes was born at Poole Keynes, Wiltshire, the fifth of eight children of the Reverend Richard Lowndes and his wife Ann (née Kaye).  Soon after his birth, the family moved to Sturminster, Dorset, where his father became the Vicar.

George married Hilda Julia Forbes on 3rd September 1896 at Sturminster, Dorset.  They had four sons and one daughter:  Richard Forbes (1897-1916), Donald George (1899-1956), Maurice Wyndham (1902-1996), Susan Alison (1908) and Thomas Hestre (1913-1995).  Their eldest son Richard Forbes Lowndes was killed in action aged 19 on the 14th Nov 1916 at the Somme, France.

George Lowndes practised before the High Court of Bombay and was a member of the Viceroy of India’s Executive Council.  Upon his return to England he was appointed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1929, at that time the court of last resort for the British Empire, retiring in 1934.  He was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Star of India.

Sir George Lowndes died at Gaddens Close, Ringwood, Southampton, on 18th September 1943.