William Edgar Rowe

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1895
Place of Birth	Walthanstow, Essex, England
Death	21 Mar 1918
Place of Death	Zillebeke, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 4 months
Description	5'5¾ (1.m) tall; weight 127 lbs (kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	clerk
Religion	Methodist
Address	Copley street, Bayswater, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Edgar Rowe
Military Information
Reg Number	3452
Date of Enlistment	3 Aug 1915
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Fate	Killed in Action 21 Mar 1918
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Habieta, Egypt on 2 Mar 1916 before embarking in Alexandria on HMT Corsican on 29 Mar 1916 for Marseilles, France arriving on 5 Apr 1916.

On 13 Dec 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 22 Dec 1916 he was wounded in action at Flers. The battalion's War Diary, mentions enemy shelling activity and casualties, but does not list William amongst them. His injury was probably caused by shrapnel - a penetrating wound to the bladder and abdomen.

Placed on an Ambulance Train on 28 Dec 1916 and admitted to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen on the 29th. On 12 Jan 1917 he was embarked on HMHS Carisbrook Castle for England where he entered the Ontario Hospital the next day, remaining with them until 7 Mar 1917 when he was discharged to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. Several months later, spent regaining strength in a number of base units, Bill again proceeded to France (15th Jun 1917). He rejoined the 11th Battalion on 7 Jul 1917 at Ribemont.

Bill was promoted temporary corporal on 29 Sep 1917 , and the rank was confirmed on 19 Oct 1917. From 10 to 16 Feb 1918 he attended a Corps Gas School before enjoying some leave in the UK. On 11 Mar 1918 he rejoined the battalion, and on 21 Mar 1918 he was Killed in Action along with two others by enemy shell fire near Neuve Eglise. Buried in the Spoilbank Cemetery Zillebeke, 2.5 km south of Ypres, Belgium

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  Spoilbank Cemetery Zillebeke Belgium
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission