© Lawrence W. Crider, 12 November,2006

 

Alexander Low was born in Bath in 1817 and joined the 4th Light Dragoons as a Cornet by purchase on 2 October 1835. He was promoted to Lieutenant by purchase on 6 July 1838, and Captain by purchase on 14 July 1843. Low was promoted to Brevet Major on 20 June 1854.

Besides being described as "a powerful, muscular man" weighing 15 stone (210 pounds), Low was both an excellent swordsman and a skilled rider. In battle, Low was a virtual killing machine: according to Robert Farquharson, a private serving under Low in the Charge, he "killed no fewer than 13 of the enemy's artillerymen, besides cutting down some of their cavalry who came his way." Russian Colonel V. Ivanov related "Armed with a great sabre made for him, Low burst into the thick of the scuffle and attacked 11 Russian fighters with his own hands." Despite this ferocity in battle, Low was able to give clear headed advice-- to both Captain Hutton and Lord George Paget, who approached him in the heat of battle to ask what they should do.

 

Cpt Alexander Low, 4th Light Dragoons
On the day after the battle of Balaclava, Low was promoted to Major, vice Halkett who was killed. Low subsequently was in command of the regiment at the Battle of Inkerman where the regiment came under heavy fire which resulted in the death of two men and the wounding of another. He was present at the battle of the Tchernaya, with the cavalry at Eupatoria, and when he left the Crimea he was entitled to a Crimean Medal with Clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 12 December 1854, Lieutenant Colonel 1 May 1857, and Colonel 12 December 1857. He was awarded the CB in 1867, was promoted to Major-General in 1868 and retired as a General in 1881, with the appointment to the Colonelcy of his old regiment. He was awarded the KCB on 12 June 1904 and died as Sir Alexander Low on 9 July 1904.

Captain Alexander Low