Sergeant William Thomas ROWLES (8118)
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Sergeant William Thomas Rowles (8118) - 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
Killed in action at Lacouture, France on the 13th October 1914 (age 29)
BROWN'S ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY, FESTUBERT, France - grave IV. F. 1.
Photo above shows Sergeant William Thomas Rowles with his wife Rose Ann (née Hughes) and his two daughters Gwenllian Mary (b. 1909) and Doris Annie (b. 1913).
William Thomas Rowles was born on the 30th October 1885 at Milton, Stourport, Worcestershire, son of Arthur Thomas Rowles and Sarah Rowles (Née Williams).
At the age of 18 he enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment on the 4th January 1904, having previously served with the 3rd Battalion Artillery Voulunteers.
After enlistment he was posted to the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and joined them in Tipperary, Ireland on the 3rd February 1904 and returned to the U.K on the 27th September 1904 to be stationed at Aldershot for the next 2 years. He married Rose Ann Hughes at Aldershot on the 19th November 1906. He was promoted to rank of Corporal on the 19th June 1907. He was posted the the Worcestershire Regimental Depot on the 16th November 1907 and on the 2nd August 1908 was attached to the 5th Battalion and on the 1st Febraury 1909 was attached to the 6th Battalion until he was posted back to the 3rd Battalion on the 8th October 1911. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on the 2nd July 1913 and promoted to rank of Sergeant on the 17th December 1913. He sailed with the 3rd Battalion to France on the S.S. “Bosnian” landing in Havre, France on the 15th August 1914.
(photos submitted by Stuart Rowles)