Private, 128536, 21st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (formally Private, 2841, Royal Welsh Fusiliers). Died, killed in action, aged about 19, on 21 March 1918 at the Western Front.
On 2nd September 1915, a proposal was made to the War Office for the formation of a single MG Company per Brigade, by withdrawing the Vickers guns from the Battalions. They would be replaced at Battalion level by Lewis guns. The Machine Gun Corps was created by Royal Warrant on October 14th, 1915, followed by an Army Order on 22nd October. The MGC would consist of Infantry Machine-gun Companies, Cavalry machine-gun Squadrons, and Motor Machine Gun Batteries. The reorganisation was completed by mid 1916. The Base Depot of the Corps in France was established at Camiers, close to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.
Private Rowlands enlisted firstly into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers before being transferred to a Machine Gun Company. The 21st Battalion, MGC was formed on 24 February 1918 from the 62nd, 64th, 110th and 237th Machine Gun Companies. On 21 March 1918, the enemy launched what was intended to be a decisive offensive, attacking the British Fifth and Third Armies on the Somme in overwhelming strength. This became known as the actions at the Somme Crossings (Battle of St. Quentin). The 21st Division bore the brunt of the German attack and suffered greatly. At the forefront of the defensive line Machine Gunnners were positioned both to obstruct the attackers as well act as a buffer to allow troops to withdraw behind them and regroup. In this way they became the first obstacle the advancing enemy had to overcome and put out of action. The guns and their crews became obvious targets.
The Battalion War Diary describes the work that the Machine Gun Batteries did to counter the attack and inflict considerable losses on the enemy. The Battalion deployed three batteries, comprising three machine guns each, in the line with one other in support. From the outset they were subjected to artillery bombardment, including gas shells. Much of the time they had to wear their gas masks and peer into the mist and smoke to try and spot enemy troop movements. Despite inflicting heavy losses on the enemy some of the guns were eventually overwhelmed by the shear weight of numbers. Other gun crews moved back a section at a time providing cover for the remaining gun sections and defending troops.
Born at Holyhead the son of John and Harriet Rowlands, 2 Spencer Terrace, Holyhead. in 1901 he lived with his family at 41 Wynne Street, Holyhead. His father, John R Rowlands (48) was employed as a Coal Porter for the Royal Mail Steamers and came from Holyhead. His mother, Harriet Rowlands (nee Cave) (42) also came from Holyhead. His siblings included Ellen (22), John (20), a Boilermaker, Henry (14), Richard Humphries (11), William (8) and Hugh R Rowlands (5). In 1911 the family had moved to 4 Alderley Terrace, Holyhead. Living with them as a boarder was Sarah Cave (49), a probable relation (sister?) of Harriet.
His brother John served with the Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers and his brother Richard served with the Australian Imperial Forces.
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. Panel 90 - 93. He has no known grave.
Extracts from the 21st Division, MGC War Diary kindly provided by Andy Lonergan at www.21stdivision1914-18.org/