We Remember

Thomas Rowland

Thomas Rowland
Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
164468
Unit at enlistment: 
84th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
No
Wounded: 
Yes
Date of death: 
November 28th, 1916
Cemetery: 
St. Sever Cemetery Extension - Rouen, France - O.II.T.3.
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Brant
Birth city: 
Brantford, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
163 Rawdon Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
163 Rawdon Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Coremaker
Employer: 
Massey-Harris Co.
Religious denominations: 
Roman Catholic
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
32

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds (Gun Shot Wound Left Leg Amputated) No. 6 General Hospital, Rouen.

BX November 30, 1916

Thomas Rowland and George Rowland , Two Soldier Sons in Hospital

With five of her sons in the King’s uniform and all overseas, Mrs. Margaret Rowland has had the heart rending news that two of them are in hospital. The latest word is that Private Thomas Rowland, who enlisted with the 84th, has been wounded and admitted to No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen, while her son George Rowland who is with the 125th Battalion has been ill in hospital.

Private Thomas Rowland was admitted to the hospital on November 26, suffering from a gunshot wound in the leg. He was formerly employed as a coremaker at the Massey-Harris factory and is a single man. He enlisted with the 84th Battalion, being transferred on getting to England.

Besides Private George Rowland, who is in the hospital, Jack and Harry, with the 75th Battalion and Joseph, with the 4th C.M.R., are in France.

BX December 1, 1916

Three More Brantford Men Pay The Supreme Sacrifice – Corporals John Symonds Breedon, and Alfred Norman Goodfellow, Private Thomas Rowland – Corporal John Breedon Was Veteran of South Africa and Had Held Commissions in Regulars and Militia – 84th Men Died 

Soon after she had received word from Ottawa yesterday that her son, Private Thomas Rowland has been wounded severely, another telegram came conveying the sad news that he had died of his wounds, while he was in No. 4 General Hospital, Rouen, on Nov. 28. He had received gunshot wounds in the leg, which caused his death.

Private Thomas Rowland enlisted here with the 84th, and was one of a draft transferred to another Canadian battalion, with which he was fighting when wounded.

He leaves a sorrowing mother to whom the news came as a heavy blow and four brothers, all in the Canadian Overseas forces, Private Harry with the 75th, Private Jack, also of the 85th, Private Joseph with the 4th C.M.R. and Private George with the 1st Canadians. A sister, Miss Emily, also survives. Private George Rowland is now in hospital seriously ill.

BX October 11, 1916

Gave Germans All That They Wanted – Private Thomas Rowland Tells How 84th Boys Did Their Fighting on Somme.

A very interesting letter telling of life in the Y.M.C.A. at the front and how some of the boys of the old 84th Battalion are progressing, has been received from Private Thomas Rowland of the 75th Battalion, a former member of the 84th, by his mother Mrs. Margaret Rowland, 387 Colborne Street, The letter follows:

September 18, 1916
Somewhere in Belgium

Dear Mother,

We just came out of the trenches after putting in 26 days of “Hell on earth.”  I am now in the Y.M.C.A., in a little village back of the firing line, probably about six miles. We had a raid on the German trenches early Sunday morning and killed a lot of the brutes, taking quite a number of prisoners. The squealed like pigs for mercy, but they got very little. We secured a lot of souvenirs and some good information. As I always said, the 84th boys were a good lot and they certainly can prove it when it comes down to business. We have lost a few of the old boys, but nothing in comparison to what the boys put over on the Germans.

Everything looks good now and I hope it won’t be long until we have them smashed and I am back with you again. I have never heard from Harry since I came over here, but I heard from another source that he is all right and is in Bramshott. I hear the 125th is there too, so I may see both Harry and George before long, as they will likely be sent over here soon. At any rate mother, don’t worry about me, for I will pull through all right.

I never get a chance to go any place to find out or see anybody. We are right on the grindstone all the time, but I may get a chance later on. We are receiving a little music in the Y.M.C.A. here. Just now the piano is going and the boys are all taking their turns giving a little speech or song. It sounds better here than anything I have heard as it is a long time since I have heard anything in the line of music. Now, mother, this is meant for the whole family, and I hope they will all write, as it makes me feel lonesome when the mail is being read and not a line for me. Tell them all to write, for you don’t know how cheering a letter is from home. If Albert is getting used as well in Germany as the German prisoners are here, why he is “jake” and there is nothing to worry about. 

Your affectionate son,

Thos. Rowland

BX May 9, 1916

Three Sons Left with 84th Battalion – Mrs. Thomas Rowland Now Has All Her Five Sons in Khaki

Among the men in the 84th Battalion who left here this morning were three sons of Mrs. Thomas Rowland, 163 Rawdon Street, leaving but one of five sons yet in the city, and he in khaki.

Of the five sons, Joseph, who formerly worked on a farm near Cainsville, is now in the trenches; Tom, formerly a coremaker at Massey-Harris, and Jack and Harry, teamsters, left with the 84th this morning, and George, also employed on a farm, is with the 125th Battalion.  A daughter, Mrs. A. Aston, had her husband a prisoner of Quedlinburg am Harz camp, in Germany.  Harry is the only married son, he having resided at 47 St. Paul’s Avenue.  Three girls, Katie, Cobalt and Emily and Mrs. A. Aston of this city, form the only members of the family not in khaki.

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