Leonard Rowe

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 05/02/2016 - 13:38

First Name:

Leonard

Last Name:

Rowe

Mother's Name:

Rebecca Rowe nee Hall

Father's Name:

Arthur Rowe

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, March 11, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Sapper

Rank at Discharge:

Sapper

Unit:

Field Company Engineers

Company:

9th

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, March 7, 1958

Details:

Leonard Rowe (Service No 9959) was born in Lithgow, N.S.W. around 1897. Soon after his birth, the family moved to the Illawarra district of N.S.W.

When Leonard enlisted at the age of 18, he was single, lived at Austinmer, N.S.W. and worked as a railway porter. Previously, Leonard had served 4 years with 37th infantry and was a member of the local surf club.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A31 Ajana with 9th Field Company Engineers on 5th July 1916. The troops arrived in England on 31st August 1916 and Leonard joined the fighting in France on 22nd November 1916.

Leonard saw service on the Western Front until 3rd May 1917 when he was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of severe gun shot wounds to his arm and left tibia.

He returned to Australia in February 1919 and was discharged medically unfit on 18th May 1919.

In 1933 he married Kathleen Knowles at Bulli, N.S.W. and they lived nearby at Thirroul until his death in 1958.

Leonard's service is commemorated on the Austinmer War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, ROWE LEONARD