ROWLAND (ROWLAN), John Joseph

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Brussels, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654165
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
20 years 11 months
Cemetery
Aulnoy Communal Cemetery - Nord - France
Cenotaph
Brussels Cenotaph
Blyth Memorial Hall
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654165
RESIDENCE:                    Walton – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            November 22, 1897
                                             Walton – Hullet Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           November 1, 1918               20 years     11 months
CEMETERY:                     Aulnoy Communal Cemetery – Aulnoy –
                                             Nord – France
                                             A     2     2
PARENTS:                         Mr. John and Mary Rowland – Walton - Ontario
Occupation:                        Labourer                               Religion:     Roman Catholic
Enlistment:                         Brussels – January 3, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 18 years     2 months

Private Rowland and the 161st Battalion arrived in England on November 11, 1916. On March 8, 1918 he is Struck off Strength from the 161st Battalion and joins the 4th Reserve Battalion. On March 28th he transfers to the 47th Battalion at Bramshott – Hampshire. He then goes into France and joins the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Depot on March 30th.  In August he is called to the front and joins the 47th Battalion in the field on August 12, 1918.
Private Rowland was killed instantly from wounds to his chest while he was acting as the runner for his Company. The unit was located south east of Valenciennes. Aid was given immediately but the wound received was to his heart.
There was poor observation with winds from the west and unsettled conditions.
During the day the Battalion found the enemy artillery and snipers very active.
At 3:35 am “A” & “C” Companies were right and left assault with “B” & “D” Companies acting as right and left support.
The barrage began at 5:15 am and there was an immediate and considerable enemy counter barrage with much gas being used. No resistance was met until Poirier Station was passed and it was here that enemy resistance from well dug in infantry was met in great numbers. The enemy defended and the fight was bloody and it was bitter.
At 6:50 am the last objective was gained and then at 7:05 am the advance again continued with “B” & “D” Companies leap-frogging through “A” & “C” Companies who then became the support. There was very strong enemy resistance before the final objective was seized and consolidated in depth. The enemy machine-gun fire from Valenciennes was heavy on those companies holding the line of the railway and on the support companies.
Then at 4:30 pm the enemy artillery laid down a barrage and the Battalion artillery laid down a counter-barrage. There was no infantry fight.