Cyril Nelson "Kid" Lowe, MC, DFC (7 October 1891 – 6 February 1983) was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, a First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns' character "Biggles".

At Dulwich, he excelled at a number of sports, and represented the school in boxing, athletics, swimming, cricket and rugby.

[4] These five would all go on to play in the 1913 Varsity match, (and also produced the captains of both Oxford and Cambridge in 1919), and all of whom served in the First World War.

Despite his sporting prowess, Lowe was not physically imposing, standing 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and weighing around nine-and-a-half stone (133 lb (60 kg)) while at school.

In 1913 and 1914 he won back-to-back Five Nation Grand Slams and his eight try haul in 1914 remains a Championship record, only ever equaled by one other player, Ian Smith of Scotland.

His career total 18 tries remained an English record at his death and it was only equaled and later surpassed by another Royal Air Force pilot Rory Underwood in 1989, 66 years after Lowe's retirement.

It has subsequently been achieved by other players, though internationals are more frequent in the modern game and are generally higher scoring.

[11] Flying a F.E.2b with observer/gunner Second Lieutenant G. Masters, Lowe gained his first victory on 15 March 1917, destroying a Type C aircraft over Bailleul.

Between 23 April and 1 July 1918, Lowe scored seven more victories, sharing one with Lieutenant Ronald T. Mark, destroying three and driving down four more out of control, to bring his total to nine.

This officer and another pilot were escorting a formation of machines engaged on a bombing raid when seven enemy scouts attacked the bombers.

They both attacked these scouts, but at the outset this officer's machine was set on fire, and the other pilot's right hand top plane broke.

The action of both these officers, in practically unmanceuvrable machines, in coming to the rescue of each other in turn, showed courage and self-sacrifice of a very high order.

[17] He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1925,[18] and was posted to the Headquarters of the Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force on 7 September 1925.

[28] On 31 December 1937 Lowe was promoted to group captain,[29] and retired from the Royal Air Force on 7 October 1944.