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James Henry Rowe - Information

James Henry was born in Campbelltown c1891 to William and Maud Rowe. When the war began, he was living at 19 Morehead St in Waterloo with his parents, and supported himself as a slater (roof tiler). On the 17th of August 1915, James enlisted in the AIF. However, after three weeks, he was discharged due to his parents' request. He then re-enlisted at Holsworthy on the 20th of January 1917, aged 25. During training, James was posted with the 17th Battalion as a Private. He then departed Sydney on the HMAT Wiltshire on the 7th of February 1917.

James arrived at Devonport on the 11th of April. On the voyage to England, he was charged with insubordination and disobeying orders, and was also diagnosed with gonorrhoea. James was then marched into Rollestone Camp, Windmill Hill, and then Perham Downs in late April. He was put through strenuous training, before leaving Southampton for France in August. He was then taken on strength to the 35th Battalion during the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium. Sadly, he was not in the muddy trenches long before he was killed in action on the 3rd of October 1917. At the time, James' Battalion were in the trenches ready to go over the top towards Ypres, when a German shell hit. He was one of five that were killed, and carried to the back of the line and buried. However further bombardments and shifting lines throughout the campaign, meant that the makeshift cemetery was lost. Today the location of his grave is still unknown. His name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres) in Belgium.