ROWELL, Robert Jameson
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | 1877, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Omeo, East Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Church of England Clerk in Holy Orders |
| Memorials: | Kyneton Honour Roll, Omeo Shire of Omeo WWI Honour Rolls |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Mar 1918: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
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| 21 Mar 1918: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Persic, Sydney |
Help us honour Robert Jameson Rowell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Married Agatha Geraldine DOBBIE on 16 July 1918 at Littleham Church, Exmouth, Devon, England
A CHAPLAIN'S LETTER.
The following letter was received by Bishop Cranswick from the Rev.R. J. Rowell, of Omeo: "Our voyage over to England was full of interest" and incident. We came via the Panama Canal. Then called at Newport News, of Virginia,U.S.A.; thence on to New York, where we stayed for a week. We took over 300 American soldiers on board at New York, and thus filled up the vessel with troops. From New York we went on to Halifax, where we joined a convoy. All went well until about five hours out from the British mine field, and at which place the Germans were successful in sinking our escort, the Moldavia. She was immediately ahead of us when torpedoed, and at 2.30 a.m. In seeking to avoid running into the sinking Moldavia, we had to change our course, and collided with another great ship of the convoy. Fortunately for us all the damage done was a dent in the side of the vessel above water line, and one of the life boats smashed to splinters. Just about 30 hours before the Moldavia was sunk, six British destroyers met us. Three of these stood by the Moldavia, and took off all the troops and crew. Fifty-four lives were lost, probably on account of the fast in rush of water and drowning the men ere they could get on deck. "Work on the ship did not vary much. We had an administration of Communion every Sunday morning. at 6 o'clock. Church parade at 10 a.m. Then an informal service in the afternoon. This service was always well attended and appreciated. We had some fine fellows on board. On two occasions I succeeded in getting some of them to give an address at these informal meetings. It made them takes a definite stand amongst their fellows, and made them feel that after such testimony they had to set an example for others. To get these men who are continually with the others, to take such a stand, means the lifting of the moral and spiritual tone of the whole camp."We also conducted Confirmation Classes and Bible Study on board. The names of the intending candidates for confirmation being sent on to the camps, into which the men were apportioned on landing. On reaching England I was given six days' leave which I much enjoyed. Then on Saturday last I joined up here in camp at Sutton Veny, Wilts. There are very few men in camp, as reinforcements from Australia have been so few. Therefore there is not a great deal for me to do. But I think I shall shortly be removed over to France."
Gippsland Times Monday 16 September 1918 page 4