Wesley Richard Rowlands enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 9 August 1915. Born in Lower Homebush, the sixth of nine children of John Rowland and Jane Rowland, he was twenty-three years old, unmarried, a labourer.
The year before, on 24 September 1914, Wesley’s older brother Henry had enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Swan Hill. On 8 May 1915 Henry was reported wounded and missing. It was not until May 1916 that a Court of Enquiry determined that he had been killed. At the time of Wesley’s enlistment he did not know with any certainty that his brother was dead.
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Photo thanks to Neville Rowland and the Avoca and District Historical Society. |
Wesley enlisted at the same time as Harold Greenwood, also from Homebush. At first he was placed in the depot battalion, then, on 3 December 1915, he was assigned to the 2nd reinforcements of the 31st Battalion.
The 31st Battalion was raised in August 1915 as part of the 8th Brigade at Enoggera, on the outskirts of Brisbane. Some of the battalion's companies, however, were raised at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria.
On 3 January 1916 Wesley Rowlands left Melbourne on HMAT Kyarra A55 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 31st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements. His pay rate was that of an ordinary enlisted man, 5 shillings a day.
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| The departure of the troopship Kyarra on 3 January 1916. Photograph from the Australian War Memorial Accession Number P06276.048 |
On 31 January 1916 he disembarked from at Suez.
On 7 February he was admitted to the Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis, between Cairo and Port Said, suffering from enteric fever (also known as typhoid). On 19 February he was transferred to the No 4 Auxiliary hospital at Abbassia in Cairo suffering from mumps.
From the Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal of Saturday 26 February 1916, page 2:
HOMEBUSH LOWER.
(From our Correspondent).
Word was received from the Defence Department a few days ago by Mr J Rowland, stating that his son, Private Wesley R Rowland, who sailed from Victoria on December 28th was an inmate of the First Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis since February, suffering from a severe attack of enteric fever. His many friends in Homebush and district wish him a speedy recovery. Private Rowlands is a brother to Private Henry H Rowland, who has been reported wounded and missing since May last. Private letters have been received by Mrs Rowland, stating that her son was killed on the date he was reported missing, but so far no official information can be gained on the matter
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| Interior of Medical Ward 5 at No 1 Australian General Hospital located in the former Heliopolois Palace Hotel. About 1916. Photograph from the Australian War Memorial Accession Number H16957 |
He was discharged from hospital on 4 March 1916 and posted to the 8th training battalion at Zeitoun. On 1 April 1916 he was taken on strength of the 31st Battalion. On 17 June 1916 he embarked at Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force. He disembarked at Marseilles on 25 June from HMT Manitou.
The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt, and proceeded to France, destined for the Western Front, in June 1916. The 31st Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on19 July 1916, having only entered the front-line trenches 3 days previously. The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 31st - it suffered 572 casualties, over half of its strength.
Fromelles is said to have been the worst 24 hours in Australia's history. There were 5,533 casualties and about 2,000 men were killed in one night.
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| Portion of the German 2nd line held by the 31st Battalion, AIF, throughout the night during the Battle of Fleurbaix (Fromelles) which took place on 19 July 1916 and 20 July 1916. Note the attempt at consolidation. This photograph was taken during the morning of the 20th July whilst the Germans were re-occupying their old position; three German soldiers are at the rear. Photograph from the Australian War Memorial Accession Number A01562 |
On 21 July 1916 Private Wesley Rowlands was reported missing. A court of enquiry held in August 1917 found that Wesley Richard Rowland, 1877, of the 31st Battalion, who was previously reported missing was certified by headquarters in London as killed in action 21 July 1916.
The death of Wesley Rowland was reported in the Avoca Free Press on 25 August 1917:
Our Homebush Lower correspondent writes :-"The many friends of Mr and Mrs John Rowland, of Homebush Lower, will be sorry to learn that they have received official confirmation of the death of their son, Private Wesley R Rowland, who has been reported missing for over a year— since July 21st, 1916. Rev J R Currie, Methodist minister of Avoca, received the information, and had the painful duty of breaking the news to the parents on Sunday last that their son had been killed in action on the above date. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved ones, this being the second son who has given his life for his King and country, his brother, Private Henry H Rowland, having been killed in action on May 8th, 1915
On 10 September 1917 the following Died on Service notice was placed in the Argus newspaper:
ROWLAND.- Killed in action on July 19, 1916 (previously reported missing), Private Wesley R. Rowland, dearly loved fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. John Rowland, of Homebush Lower.
"There came a day when the roll was called
That he did not answer 'Here!'
He slept with comrades his last long sleep,
And he died without a fear."
"In the bloom of his life God claimed him,
in the prime of his manhood days;
None knew him but to trust him,
None spoke his name but to praise."
-(Inserted by his fond parents, sisters, and brothers.)
Wesley Rowland and his brother Henry are also remembered on the Avoca Soldier’s Memorial, unveiled on 18 November 1921.
Wesley Rowland is memorialised at V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
Links:
- Wesley Rowland
- Virtual War Memorial: Wesley Richard (Wes) ROWLANDS
- Wikitree: Wesley Richard Rowland (1892 - 1916)
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, ROWLANDS Wesley Richard : Service Number - 1877 3941 : Place of Birth - Maryborough VIC : Place of Enlistment - Broadmeadows VIC : Next of Kin - (Father) ROWLANDS John
Related posts:
- Homebush farewells Wesley Rowland, Harold Greenwood, William Burns in October 1915
- Christmas Eve 1915 at Homebush Lower
