The Soldier's Details

Arthur Rowland enlisted AIF 16 Oct 1941 he was 6′ 1″ tall.  At Northam Army Camp he became a Reinforcement for 2/4th MGB, as one of 146 soldiers was given leave over Christmas, returned to Northam and entrained to Fremantle on 15th Jan 1942 to sail to Singapore.

Rowland was Platoon Sergeant to Lt Harry Green, No. 1 Platoon.

Rowland and was listed as missing in action from 11 Feb 1942 Bukit Timah.    He had received a GSW wound to his right thigh and probably behind Japanese Lines.  It was believed he escaped to Sumatra where he managed to board a ship departing for Ceylon prior to Japanese landing and taking control.

Les McCann told Murray Ewen, Rowland was sheltering in a hut with injured Millhouse an Indian and two British Officers.  It seems Rowland and the 2 British Officers together escaped to Sumatra. Rowland returned to Australia and the two officers escaped and got back to England.

Please read of the Japanese Ambush SW Bukit Timah 11 Feb 1942

He was admitted to 2/12th Australia General Hospital at Colombo, Ceylon on 9/3/1942. Embarked on HMT Stirling Castle for Australia on 13/3/1942 and disembarked at Melbourne on 6/4/1942. Disembarked Fremantle from the British Ship Egra on 13/4/1942. On 13/3/1944 Taken on Strength with the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion and joined the 1st Australian Machine Gun Training Company on 6/8/1944.

 

On his return to Australia, Arthur faced a Court of Enquiry 15 June 1942 held to enquire into the circumstances of the escape by Rowland. (there had been instances where soldiers escaped Singapore having left their posts without permission).

The Court found there was no evidence to prove that his leaving of the Island was not justified.

Initially he was granted leave.  Then declared fit.

He retrained in several areas.  ToS 19 Oct 42 G.D.D. SA believed to be Warradale .  29 June 43 with rank of Corp, Rowland joined 2/3 MGB 7th Division.  He spent time in Queensland.  Was sick a few times.

 

Was the person who contacted the Ellis family by letter regarding the death of their son, Ron writing about Arthur Rowland?

Please read story

Family history.

Arthur departed London on ‘Borda’ 27 March 1924 aged 3 years to Fremantle with his parents Jack and Louisa Rowland. His parents John ‘Jack’ Rowland and Louisa Annie Alice Taylor married 25 Oct 1919 England.

Below:  Borda passengers.

 

When Arthur enlisted he recorded his father as his NOK.  Jack Rowland, 73 Jersey Street, Jolimont.  Also incuded   were details of his father’s then militia record:  W3427 L/Cpl 7th A Transps RAE Reg 11A.

Arthur’s father served WW1 England, a Sapper with Royal Engineers service No. 43023 discharged 1919.    Having served England in WW1, the English government offered incentives and better conditions for former army members to move to Australia.

There is a possibility Jack Rowland sought out Group Settlement at Manjimup because Jack and Louisa were living Manjimup later in life as was Arthur and Kathleen.

Arthur married Kathleen Anne Jefferies Cowra, NSW 22 Nov 1942 (Arthur was back in Australia then).   Arthur changed his NOK details to his wife Kathleen Anne Rowland, 39 Pitt Street, Redfern, NSW.

Their first child was a son born 7 Oct 1945 – according to his military records.

The couple had two children.

In the 1944 Electoral Roll Arthur and Kathleen are residing Bunnings Mill, Yornup except that Arthur was in Army.

In the 1968 Electoral Roll Arthur and Kathleen are residing Tone River Mill and Arthur is a millwright.

In 1971 Arthur’s father Jack Rowland died at Manjimup and was buried at Manjimup aged 77 years.  Jack and Louisa had been married 52 years.

Arthur’s mother Louisa Rowland died in Surrey, England aged 75 years.

In the 1980 Electoral Roll Arthur and Kathleen are residing 3 Rae Street, Manjimup.  Arthur is a timber worker.

Arthur died 14 Jan 1989 and was buried at Manjimup Old Cemetery.  He was 67 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

Below:  1951 and 1952 – Arthur Rowland  at Donnelly Mill and Tone River Mill. Tone River is about 35 miles from Manjimup.