The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private C Rowe

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Private Charles ROWE, G/18942, "D" Company, 6th  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, (gun shot wounds right hand & arm,  fractured humerus), Etaples Hospital, France, 10.15 pm, 13th April 1917.

Born Halesworth, Suffolk, son of William & Anna / Annie Rowe, Holton, Halesworth, Suffolk.

13th June 1903, Parish Church, Diss, Norfolk, Charles Rowe, age 25, bachelor, carman, Diss, father, unknown, married Mary Turner, age 23, spinster, Diss, father William Turner, gardener.

Children - 8th November 1903, Diss Norfolk, baptism of Bertie Charles Rowe, son of Charles, (carman) & Mary Rowe;

1911 Census - 1 Pleasant Row, Mission Road, Diss, Norfolk - Jane Turner, head, age 68, widow, married 42 years, 10 children, 8 still alive, born Thatford, Norfolk; Mary Rowe, daughter, age 31, married 8 years, 4 children, all still alive, born Thetford, Norfolk; Bertie Rowe, grandson, age 7, born Diss, Norfolk; Ernest Rowe, grandson, age 6, born Diss, Norfolk; Leslie Rowe, grandson, age 5, born Diss, Norfolk; Wilfred Rowe, grandson, age 9 months, born Diss, Norfolk.

1911 Census - near Cherry Tree Farm, Holton, Halesworth, Suffolk - Henry Baldry, head, age 74, widower, farm labourer, born Middleton, Suffolk; Anna Rowe, housekeeper, age 71, widow, born Metfield, Suffolk; Charles Rowe, boarder, age 31, married, farm labourer, born Halesworth, Suffolk; Herbert Rowe, (relative crossed out, grandson crossed out), visitor, born Ipswich, Suffolk.

Previously served with 1st Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Enlisted Halesworth, Suffolk, age 36 years & 11 months, height 5ft 6 inches, weight 123lbs, dental treatment required. Resided Holton, Halesworth, Suffolk. Formerly threshing machine bondcutter

Home 11th December 1915 to 10th October 1916; BEF 11th October 1916 to 13th April 1917.

From Service Records:

12th July 1912, Diss, Norfolk, married Polly Turner, spinster. Children - Bertie Charles Rowe, born 10th December 1902, Diss, Norfolk;  Herbert Sidney Rowe, born 4th January 1904.

Separation Allowance of 5d a week & Allotment of Pay of 7d a week payable to mother Mrs Anna Rowe, Holton, Halesworth, Suffolk.

11th December 1915, enlisted; 12th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 19th June 1916, Bury St Edmunds, mobilized; 22nd June 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, The Buffs, Service No.G/10333; 11th October 1916, posted BEF; 11th October 1916, 38 Infantry Base Depot; 11th October 1916, posted 1st Battalion The Buffs; 20th October 1916, transferred ex 1st Battalion The Buffs, Service No.G/10333 to Royal West Kent Regiment; 23rd October 1916, joined Battalion, In the Field; 9th April 1917, wounded in action.

2nd June 1920, Statement of Relatives completed by mother - Widow - name, don't know; address, don't know,  lived apart many years; Children - name, don't know, two boys; address, don't know, men now, so many years ago; Father, William Rowe, dead; Mother, Anna Rowe (Mrs), Cherry Tree Cottages, Holton, near Halesworth, Suffolk; Brothers - William, age about 50, Goods Shed, Norwich, Great Eastern Railway; Arthur Rowe, age about 50, Chesterton? Street, Halesworth, Suffolk; John Rowe, age about 50, 24 Argyle Street, Norwich; Sisters - Emily, age 30, Stoke Ash, Suffolk.

3rd June 1920, memo from Infantry Records, Hounslow to The Superintendent, Police Force, Diss, Norfolk - "Can you please assist me in tracing the Next-of-Kin of the above named deceased soldier. Documents in my possession show a wife, Mrs Polly Rowe, (nee Turner) and two sons, Bertie Charles, age 17 years, 6 months, and Herbert Sidney, age 15 years, and 5 months. The only address is "Diss, Norfolk."

5th June 1920, memo from Inspector, Norfolk Constabulary to Infantry Records, Hounslow - "With reference to your letter RWK 4316/129 I am able to inform you that the address of the next of kin concerned is c/o Mr Brown, 11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire."

28th June 1920, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Mary Rowe,  11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire; Children - Bertie, 3rd October 1903,  11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire; Ernest, 27th? November 1904, 11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire; Leslie, 17th February 1906?, 11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire; Father, none; Mother, none; Brothers - Arthur Rowe, Halesworth, Suffolk; Jack Rowe, Ipswich, Suffolk; Will Rowe, Ipswich, Suffolk; Sister - Emily Hollingsworth, Ipswich, Suffolk.

25th August 1920, effects despatched to Mrs M Rowe, 11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire - 5 coins (1¼d), purse, 1 razor, leather waist belt, 1 letter.

1st September 1920, letter from Mrs Mary Rowe, 11 Crow Nest, Burnley, Lancashire - "Dear Sir, Can you please inform me if I am entitled to a pension as the widow and children of Pte C Rowe  G/18942 6th R W Kent Reg. I had no money from him during the time he was in the Army as he left me and his children and joined up and I could not find out where he was and I have had to work hard to keep myself and the children and if I am entitled to a pension I should be very glad as I cannot work so hard now as I have done if you will kindly answer this for me and my children."

Halesworth & District Museum

Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, XXII. H. 21A., France.

London Gazette 31st May 1918.

SOLDIERS' BALANCES UNDISPOSED OF.

In pursuance of "The Regimental Debts Act, 1893," notice is hereby given that there is available for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled the sum of money set opposite to the name of each of the deceased Soldiers named in the lists which are published •with this notice in the London Gazette and the " Army List," and are also to be seen at the Regimental Depots throughout the United Kingdom.

Applications from persons supposing themselves entitled as Next of Kin should be addressed by letter to " The Secretary, War Office, Park Buildings, St. James's Park, London, S.W.," and marked outside "Effects."

R. H. BRADE. War Office, May 31, 1918.

List CCCCCXIII of the Names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled.— Effects 1917-1918.

Rowe C.,Pte., Royal West Kent Regiment.    £5    8s    6d.