ROWE, John
| Service Number: | 7121 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kinchela, Macleay River, New South Wales, Australia, 6 April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Kinchela Creek, Kempsey, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Summer Island, Kinchela, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Cheesmaker (according to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour he was a Methodist Minister) |
| Died: | Died of wounds 1. Bullet wound left buttock & 2. Gas. Gangrene, Section 2, Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England , 24 August 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Reading Cemetery, England CWGC Screen Wall. 72. 16471. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1918: | Involvement Private, 7121, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1918: | Embarked Private, 7121, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne |
John Rowe
John Rowe born 6/4/1891 Kinchela, Macleay River, NSW, the youngest son of Thomas Rowe and Harriett Frances Sanders, and died 24/8/1918 Reading, Berkshire, England.
John aka Jack Rowe was a Methodist Minister. After receiving several white feathers in the mail, he enlisted as a Private. The letter received from another family in Kinchela, said he was hiding behind his collar, so rather than go in as a Minister, he went in as an ordinary soldier.
Jack died of gas gangrene from a bullet wound aged 27 years in the Reading Hospital, Berkshire, England.
Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey, NSW: 1899 - 1952), Wednesday 4 September 1918, page 4
PRIVATE JOHN ROWE DEAD
That ‘ill news of this space’ was confirmed to Mrs Rowe, of Kinchela, when the rather reassuring cable message, dated 23rd August, from her son in France saying ' wounded in left buttock, not serious,' arrived a week later than the officially imparted news of his death from wounds on the 24th of August. Deceased soldier, Private John Rowe, son of the late Thomas Rowe of Kinchela, was aged 27, and beyond this river was well known in Methodist Church circles; for he had gone through the evangelistic course at the Central Methodist Mission, Sydney, as an ex-student of Leigh College, had assisted in Circuit work at Hamilton, and had relieved in a number of charges in the western district. Private Rowe, who went into camp 8th January last, sailed for Europe 28th February, and arrived in England 20th April, was brother to Mr Tom Rowe, the well known cheese manufacturer on the lower river.
Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW: Thursday 19 December 1918, page 4
A SOLDIER'S GRAVE.
Mrs H F Rowe, of Kinchela Creek, has received the following letter, dated December 7th, from the Base Records Office, Melbourne : "Dear Madam, —
With reference to the regrettable report of death of your son, the late No. 7121, Pte. J. Rowe, 19th Batt., I am now in receipt of advice that he died on the August 24th 1918, at the War Hospital, Reading, England, of wounds received in action (gunshot wound left buttock, gas gangrene) and was buried on 28th August 1918, in the Reading Cemetery, Reading, at 2 p.m., single grave No. 16471, section 72, Chaplain the Rev. John Carter officiating. The deceased soldier was accorded a military funeral, firing party, bugler and pallbearers being in attendance. The coffin, of good polished elm, was draped with the Union Jack, and surmounted by a beautiful floral tribute. Administrative Headquarters, Australian Imperial Force, London, were represented at the funeral, and a number of patients from the hospital attended. The "Last Post" was sounded at the graveside, by a bugler of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. The utmost care and attention is being devoted, where possible, to the graves of our soldiers. It is understood that photographs are being taken as soon as is possible, and these will be transmitted to next-of-kin when available. Those additional details are furnished by direction, it being the policy of the Department to forward all information received in connection with the deaths of members of the Australian Imperial Force. Yours faithfully, J. M. Lean, Major."
Submitted 15 December 2023 by Sharon Goodwin
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
John Rowe was born at Kinchela, Macleay River, NSW on 6th April, 1891 to parents Thomas James and Harriet Frances Rowe (nee Sanders).
Thomas James Rowe, father of John Rowe, died on 24th May, 1906 at Kinchela, NSW.
On 8th January, 1918 John Rowe enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 26 year old, single, Cheesemaker (According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – his calling was a Methodist Minister) from Kinchela Creek, NSW.
Private John Rowe, Service number 7121, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Nestor (A71) on 28th February, 1918 with the 19th Infantry Battalion, 21st Reinforcements & disembarked at Liverpool, England on 20th April, 1918.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched in to 5th Training Battalion at Fovant, Wiltshire on 20th April, 1918.
On 8th July, 1918 Private Rowe proceeded overseas to France from Fovant via Folkestone. He was marched in from England to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 12th July, 1918. Private Rowe was marched out from A.I.B.D. on 13th July, 1918 to join his Unit & was taken on strength with his Unit in the field on 14th July, 1918.
Private John Rowe was wounded in action in France on 11th August, 1918. He was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to his left buttock. Private Rowe was transferred to 55th Casualty Clearing Station then transferred by Ambulance Train on 13th August, 1918. He was admitted to 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport on 13th August, 1918. Private Rowe was listed for embarkation to England on 16th August, 1918 & embarked on Hospital Ship Carisbrooke Castle on 17th August, 1918.
He was admitted to Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire on 18th August, 1918 with gunshot wounds to left buttock. The Hospital Report reads “Severe wound left buttock. Gas gangrene.”
Private John Rowe died at 10 am on 24th August, 1918 at Section 2, Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England from wounds received in action – 1. Bullet wound left buttock & 2. Gas. Gangrene. The Hospital Report stated “Patient died suddenly from cardiac seizure.”
He was buried in Reading Cemetery, Reading, Berkshire – Screen Wall. 72. 16471.
Those buried in Plot 72 & buried in other parts of the cemetery that do not have headstones marking their graves are named on the Memorial Screen Wall located near the Cross of Sacrifice. Their deaths are still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/reading.html
Click images to start slideshow.