ROWAN, John George
| Service Number: | VX157 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 November 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Colac, Victoria, Australia, 26 October 1905 |
| Home Town: | Cororooke, Colac-Otway, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Cororooke State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Gymea, New South Wales, Australia, 21 May 1981, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales Plot: Henry Kendall Rose Gdn 11, 0138. Memorial ID: #181019500 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, VX157 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, VX157 |
Help us honour John George Rowan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Fox
John Rowan served in the Militia between July 1924 and November 1939. With the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the AIF and sailed to the Middle East with the 2/6th AIF and was engaged in the Battle of Bardia in the first Libyan campaign. He was awarded a Military Cross on the 7 March 1941 for bravery during this battle.
John was promoted to the rank of Major and in early April 1941, Major Rowan served in Greece and Crete with the 2/6 Infantry Battalion. He returned to Australia in 1942, and in February 1943 served in New Guinea with 37/52 Battalion.
Upon his discharge in 1944 Rowan had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. John died in 1981 in NSW, and it was after his death that his daughter received the Greek Medal on his behalf.
[Source: Colac Family History Project/WW2 Honour Roll]
Click images to start slideshow.