ROWLAND, Alan
| Service Number: | SX3378 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 May 1940, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/7th Field Regiment |
| Born: | Mile End, South Australia, 19 December 1919 |
| Home Town: | Henley Beach , City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Moulder |
| Died: | Kapunda, South Australia, 2 December 2006, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Kapunda Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, S. A. |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 23 May 1940: | Involvement Signalman, SX3378 | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 May 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 23 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX3378 | |
| 3 Oct 1943: | Discharged | |
| 3 Oct 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX3378, 2nd/7th Field Regiment |
Alan Rowland - A Mighty Private Ranger
Alan P Rowland was the son of Walter Henry Rowland, a soap maker, of 277 (later corrected to 227) Military Road, Henley Beach, SA. His religion was Church of England.
On 1 November 1937 Alan attested as a person voluntarily enlisting in the Militia Force. At the time, his father lived at 5 Gilmore Road, Henley Beach South. Alan was then 5'10" and a fit 144lbs. He was an apprentice moulder, working at Horwood Bagshaw, one of Australia's oldest agricultural machinery manufacturers (founded in 1838), at Mile End. He discharged on 27 May 1940 to enlist in the AIF.
Alan enlisted in the Australian Military Forces as a single man, joining the 2/7 Army Field Regiment, 2nd AIF. His Service No. was SX. 3378. He was 20 years and 5 months of age at enlistment and his occupation was given as 'moulder'. He attested on 20 May 1940 and was a Private in Group II signals.
After 7 days of pre-embarkation leave, Alan embarked on 7 November 1940 aboard the Royal Scotsman - HMT Stratheden. He disembarked on 17 December 1940.
On 14 November 1942, Alan engaged in some misconduct ('conduct to the prejudice of good order') and was given 14 days in detention. On 26 December 1942, Alan was admitted to hospital (6AGH) with hepatitis.
After returning from active service, Alan was discharged at Wayville, SA, on 3 October 1943, signing his certificate of discharge on 24 September 1943. On discharge, he was still single and was issued a civilian suit (and hopefully, a hat). His total service period was 1229 days. On discharge Alan was 5'9" tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and auburn hair. He had tattoos on his right and left arm, one on the back of his left arm and forearm.
For his service, Alan was awarded the 1939/45 Star, the Africa Star with 8th clasp, a Defence Medal, a War Medal and an Australian Service Medal. These were posted to him on 30 April 1951, to 276 Military Road, Henley Beach, SA.
NB. The above information is drawn from Alan's service record at the National Australian Archives: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6644236
Submitted 21 February 2023 by Allison Ballard
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