Colonel A. V. Rowe, born in 1880, came of a family that for four generations had been prominently associated with the professional life of the City of Worcester as architects.

At the age of 18 he enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Norton Barracks, but a year later he transferred to the Royal Engineers and went with them to South Africa in 1899. Having served through the South African War, he returned to England in 1902, and entered civil life as a member of the firm of Henry Rowe and Sons, of which his father, who was County and City Architect, was the head.

In 1906 Alfred Vernon Rowe married Miss Nora Darling, of Worcester.

On the death of his father in 1909, Alfred Vernon Rowe succeeded him as head of the firm and as County Architect, and he subsequently became Surveyor to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral.

On the outbreak of war in 1914 he joined the 2/8th Worcestershire Regiment as a subaltern, and with his knowledge of local conditions he was of very great help to the Battalion. He was promoted Captain in the following year. He went out to France with the 61st Division in May, 1916, and returned to Aldershot in January, 1917, for a Senior Officer's Course. Later, as Major, he was in temporary command of the 2/7th Worcestershire Regiment. After the Retreat in March, 1918, he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, & was Second-in-Command, and later he again returned to his old unit, the 2/8th Worcestershire Regiment.

He returned to England in 1919, and rejoined the 8th Worcestershire Regiment T.A., and was Second-in-Command from 1923 to 1927. He commanded the 8th Battalion from January 1927 to January, 1931, when he retired as Brevet-Colonel.

Colonel Rowe died on the 31st January 1940 after a short illness.

Lieut.-Colonel A. V. Rowe