ROWLANDS, Cecil Rupert
| Service Number: | 323 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Currawang, New South Wales, Australia, 27 February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Currawang, Palerang, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Hospital attendant |
| Died: | Jaundice, Ascites & Exhaustion, No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex, England, 20 July 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cowley (St. Laurence) Churchyard, Middlesex, England Australian Section, Grave No. 5 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Collector War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 323, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 323, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 323, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Cecil Rupert Rowlands's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 20th July…… Cecil Rupert Rowlands was born on 27th February, 1890 at Currawang, New South Wales.
His mother – Emily Rowlands died on 1st June, 1895. His father – John Richard Rowlands remarried on 9th February, 1898 at St. Saviours Cathedral, Goulburn, NSW to Anne Hamilton.
Cecil Rupert Rowlands enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 2nd September, 1914 as a 24 year old, single, Hospital Attendant (as per Embarkation Roll, however on his Attestation Papers he listed he was a Farmer) from Currawang, via Goulburn, NSW.
On 18th October, 1914, Private Cecil Robert (name as per Embarkation Roll) Rowlands, Service number 323, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Argyllshire (A8) with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade – Headquarters – Attached A.M.C. (Army Medical Corps) Details. He arrived at Alexandria in December, 1914.
He joined M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) on 4th April, 1915. His Brigade was positioned at Cape Helles from 4th May, 1915.
Private Rowlands reported sick at Gallipoli on 16th August, 1915. He was admitted to St. Paul’s Hospital, Malta on 27th September, 1915 with Dysentery then transferred to Convalescent Camp at Ghain Tuffieha at Malta on 9th October, 1915.
On 29th October, 1915 Private Rowlands embarked from Malta on Hospital Ship for England. He was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, England from 10th November, 1915 & was discharged on 17th November, 1915.
He was admitted to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, England on 13th April, 1916 with Dysentry & Jaundice. The Hospital Admissions form recorded that he was awaiting a Hospital Ship.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Cecil Rupert Rowlands on 14th April, 1916 at Harefield Park, England. His disability was listed as Cirrhosis of Liver & Dysentry which was stated to have originated on 1st September, 1915 at Gallipoli. “Invalided with Dysentry to Malta for 2 months then to Wandsworth for three weeks. Went to Epsom developed jaundice at Xmas & returned to Wandsworth.” His disability was the result of climate & exposure while on Active Service. The Board recommended that Private Rowlands be discharge as permanently unfit for any military service.
Mr Rowlands, father of Private Rowlands, was advised by Base Records on 9th May that his son was dangerously ill with Dysentery and Ascites. Mr R. Rowlands wrote to Base Records on 12th May, 1916 stating he had received a wire regarding his son being dangerously ill & requested more information and he was “most anxious about my lad. If you cannot tell me will you please tell me whom I apply to for more definite news.”
Base Records advised Mr Rowlands on 18th May, 1916 that Private Rowlands was still dangerously ill. He was advised on 19th June, 1916 that Private Rowlands was progressing favourably. Then on 13th July, 1916 that Private Rowlands was “getting worse.”
Private Cecil Rupert Rowlands died on 20th July, 1916 at No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex, England from (primary) Jaundice & Ascites & (secondly) Exhaustion.
He was buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Harefield, Middlesex, England where 112 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/o---w.html
Click images to start slideshow.