The occasion was also a welcome home for Private Fred James, who had recently returned wounded.
Private Wes Rowland was also present. He was due to sail shortly.
Two of these three men, George and Wes, were killed. Only Fred survived the War, invalided out.
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George Hugh Templeton was born in 1893 at Homebush Victoria to George Templeton, a miner, and his wife Annie. The younger George enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 August 1915, a labourer, unmarried, aged 22 1/2.
Two years later, on 26 September 1917 at the age of 25, he died in Belgium at the 17th Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action at the Battle of Polygon Wood near Ypres. He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
I am afraid I know very little about Fred James. He was called Texas, apparently. I don't know what that implies, if anything.
Wesley Richards 'Wes' Rowland was born in 1892 at Homebush Lower. He enlisted as Wesley Richard Rowlands at Bendigo on 9 August 1915, 23 years old, unmarried, a labourer.
Wes Rowland was killed in action between 19 and 20 July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles, one of the 544 casualties of the 31st Australian Infantry Battalion.
Avoca newspapers and his family wrongly reported that he had been killed at Pozieres, eighty kilometres away, on 21 July 1916. A court of enquiry in August 1917 found that he had been killed in action at Fromelles
Wes Rowland's service personnel dossier states he is buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, a few kilometres from the village of Fromelles. He is memorialised at V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
On the Avoca Soldiers Memorial and on the Honor Board of the Avoca Methodist Church Wes and his brother, Henry Herbert killed 1915, are listed among the fallen.
Two years later, on 26 September 1917 at the age of 25, he died in Belgium at the 17th Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action at the Battle of Polygon Wood near Ypres. He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
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| Photograph of George Templeton retrieved from http://www.lijssenthoek.be/en/address/6797/-george-hugh-templeton.html |
I am afraid I know very little about Fred James. He was called Texas, apparently. I don't know what that implies, if anything.
Wesley Richards 'Wes' Rowland was born in 1892 at Homebush Lower. He enlisted as Wesley Richard Rowlands at Bendigo on 9 August 1915, 23 years old, unmarried, a labourer.
Wes Rowland was killed in action between 19 and 20 July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles, one of the 544 casualties of the 31st Australian Infantry Battalion.
Avoca newspapers and his family wrongly reported that he had been killed at Pozieres, eighty kilometres away, on 21 July 1916. A court of enquiry in August 1917 found that he had been killed in action at Fromelles
Wes Rowland's service personnel dossier states he is buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, a few kilometres from the village of Fromelles. He is memorialised at V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
On the Avoca Soldiers Memorial and on the Honor Board of the Avoca Methodist Church Wes and his brother, Henry Herbert killed 1915, are listed among the fallen.
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| Family of John and Jane Rowland nee Lardner with seven of their nine children about 1910. The photo possibly includes the two sons who died in World War 1: Henry Herbert Rowlands (1888 - 1915) and Wesley Richard Rowlands (1892 - 1916) . But which of the three sons in the back row is photographed is not clear: it could be any of Henry, Wes, Albert born 1885, or Leopold born 1890. Photo thanks to Neville Rowland and the Avoca and District Historical Society. |
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