24240
ROWNEY, George
| Service Number: | 794 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Payneham, South Australia, May 1880 |
| Home Town: | St Morris, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Memorials: | Magill Honour Board, Mundulla Soldiers Memorial Honour Roll, Payneham District Council Roll of Honor, St Peters Heroes of the Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 794, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 794, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 794, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 10 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Divisional Train, Although still formally under the 43rd Battalion, Rowney was "detached" to the 3rd Divisional Train for the rest of the war. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 794, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour George Rowney's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
George Rowney was born in Payneham, South Australia around June 1880. When he enlisted in August 1915, George Rowney’s age was 35 years and 3 months and he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Louisa Rowney, who was his next of kin. He had two children, unfortunately the names of the two children are unknown. He would have had to leave his wife and two children, that were most likely very young, not knowing if he would see them again. That would be extremely difficult for anybody to experience. George Rowney’s occupation was a driver before the war. His religion states that he was a Methodist.
George lived at Gardiner Avenue Newstead in South Australia. His rank on the enlistment was a private, George Rowney’s regimental number was 794. Also, his rank from the Nominal Roll was Corporal, his unit name was the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
The ship that George was travelling on was named the HMAT Afric A19 for World War I. He went to France with his unit in late 1916 and was detached to the 3rd Divisional Train, with which he served for the duration of the war. In this capacity he was involved in the battles of Messines, Third Ypres, and Amiens. Through 1919 the men of the 3rd Division returned to Australia in drafts for demobilization and discharge.
George would have been with his soldiers throughout the bloody battles. It would have been a very emotional time when the men left standing with George would have been able to return to Australia after such a long time away from home. George Rowney did not have any injuries or illnesses while he was in World War 1. During the time of World War I, and he did not receive any penalties.
George Rowney returned to Australia on the 20th of May 1919 at the age of 40 from my calculations. He did not have a memorial because he survived the war, but would have one now in the modern days.
When George Rowney returned to Australia, he received The British War Medal that was instituted in 1919, and the Victory Medal that was also authorized in 1919. His rank was corporal.
Bibliography:
The AIF Project 2016, ADRA and Group of eight Australia, Canberra, viewed 24 March 2021, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=262810>.
NAA Record Search 2021, National Archives of Australia, National Archives of Australia, viewed 24 March 2021, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=8072347&S=1&N=12&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=8072347&T=P&S=1>.
Anzac Spirit 2021, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, viewed 24 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/spirit>.
HMAT Afric 2021, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, viewed 24 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2076729>.
Click images to start slideshow.