Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Rowland (the third), was born at Dongara, during June 1878 (Birth Reg. 19069/1878). He was a farmer. In 1908 Richard is listed in the Electoral Roll as farming, on 'Bonniefield Farm, Dongara'. Bonniefield was a farm at the time owned by the Fred and George Waldeck.

Richard enlisted as a trooper (Regimental No. 1430) on 7th August 1915, in Geraldton. His father Richard is listed as his next of kin. Richard is listed as 5ft 9 ½ inches high, weighed 165 lbs, with dark blue eyes, and dark hair. He was a Methodist. He served in the 10th Light Horse Regiment.

Richard embarked with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 10th Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcements, from Fremantle to Egypt. He was then aged 36 years. He embarked on the 1st November aboard the HMAT A24 Benalla. The 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment AIF was the only AIF light horse regiment recruited in Western Australia during the First World War.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli in December 1915, the regiment was bought up to strength and reorganised. With the rest of the Australian light horse they defended Egypt from the Ottoman Army advancing on the Suez Canal. Through 1916, they drove the Turks across the deserts of Sinai, participating in the battles of Romani and Magdhaba.

In 1917, the 10th Light Horse was part of the Desert Column that advanced into Palestine. The regiment participated in the bloody battles to break the Gaza-Beersheba line and helped capture Jerusalem. They participated in the Es Salt Raid in May 1918. In August they were one of the regiments re-equipped with swords and rifle boots, and retrained to take a more orthodox cavalry role. In their new role they took part in the rout of the Ottoman army in the Jordan Valley, a campaign the light horse referred to as "The Great Ride". In September the 10th was the first formed regiment to enter Damascus. Richard served but also spent some time in hospital in Port Said, Masaid, Malha, Moascar, Ghezireh, Abbissia, and Ismailia. He was diagnosed with an “irregularity of heart and leakage of mitral valve”. He was classified “B3”. Richard was invalided to Australia on 15th November 1918, and embarked on HT “Port Darwin” at Suez. He was discharged on the 15th February 1919, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

​ Back in Australia, he is listed as being a 'farm hand' on Flowerdale Farm' during 1916.

The 43 year old Richard, married the 37 year old, Ella Clarkson (born July 1882, in Dongara) They were married during 1921 in the Irwin District (Reg. No. 1921/2). Ella and Richard lived in Dongara, on the 'Flowerdale Farm' and had two children.

Richard Rowland (the 3rd Richard) died, on April 25th 1932 (ANZAC Day), aged fifty-four years, having lost his wife, and his two sons, in the past eight years. Richard died in Dongara (Reg: Irwin, 008/1932 B/N H 3)

​ The World War 1 veteran was buried at Dongara Cemetery, on the 26th April 1932, alongside his wife. ​​​(Methodist Section, Grave 125)