George Albert Rowe

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

772574

Unit at enlistment:

125th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

May 4th, 1917

Cemetery:

Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension - Pas de Calais, France - II.F.45

Commemorated at:

Colborne Street Methodist Church, St. Jude's Anglican Church

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Cheshire

Birth city:

Chester

Address at enlistment:

8 Able Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

8 Able Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Painter

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds. During the attack at Fresnoy he was wounded in the stomach by enemy shell fire on May 3rd, 1917. His wounds were attended to and he was evacuated to No. 30 Casualty Clearing Station where he succumbed the following day.

BX May 14, 1917

Died of wounds is the report in this morning’s casualty list in regards to Private George A. Rowe of this city. George Albert Rowe, a married man, residing at 8 Able Avenue, enlisted and went overseas with the first battalion from the 38th Regiment.

He was for seven years connected with the “Duffs.” He was a painter by trade.

BX May 15, 1917

Private George Albert Rowe, of this city, who died of wounds sustained in France, makes the second break in this family, another brother having lost his life fighting also for his country. Private G. Rowe came to Brantford about 10 years ago. He was for a long time a member of the 38th Dufferin Rifles, being in “B” company. He joined the first battalion to go overseas from this regiment. A wife and one child mourn the loss of a hero husband and father. Before enlisting, he resided with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, 23 Glanville Avenue. His other brother, Edward Rowe was in the naval battle off England, being on the Aboukir. He was saved and transferred to the Monmouth, where he lost his life in the fight with Von Spee’s squadron.

BX May 15, 1917

George Funk, Echo Place Fought With the Bavarians – Was Taken Prisoner by the Canadians, Says Pte. George Rowe, Since Killed – Art Daiken, Wounded, Was Taken to Rear by Teuton Prisoners Impressed by Rowe

In his last letter to his wife and daughter, Private George Albert Rowe, who has since been killed in action, told something of the big advance at Vimy ridge in which the opportunity had been his to have a part, were he was summoned by the Great Angel. He wrote:

I am spared to write to you as you see, after our great advance and I must say that I was very lucky indeed to come through, as we came out with only half of the battalion, but in good spirits. We went in waves and I was in the second one at 5.30 in the morning. We jumped the fence, as we call it, and had beaten Fritz back 4,000 yards at 10 o’clock. When supper time drew nigh, Fritz had been chased back four or five miles. Art Daiken and I were together when he got it in the foot. It was a dandy. I made a couple of Fritzies take him out as it was too hard for him to walk. Mr. Portridge did not go over. He was held in reserve to see to the ammunition. He was lucky and I was more lucky still, as I had my life on a thread but I “made it” as you see. I was smoking cigarettes all the way and I took it cool. There were lots of 125th boys killed and wounded and I tell you there will be more yet, for we are going over the wall again tomorrow and have a hard position to take – a wood and village.

They captured George Funk of Echo Place. He was with the Bavarians who were against us, and was darn glad to see us; he gives the war six weeks more to go on that being from Easter Monday. As soon as we started, Fritz started in galore to come over with their hands up, with that old “mercy comrade.” Well I shall live in hopes of writing further. If I go over anyway, you will get word quicker than I can send it. We have a poor chance to write anything up the road; it is when we come out that is our best chance to write. We never wash or shave up the road, or even take off our putties. I enclose a card which I wrote at daybreak on Easter morning, but do not pay any attention to it as I got through all right. Well, cheer up and do your best. I am always thinking of you, and will be as I go over tomorrow. So as you get news faster than I can send it, I will bid you goodbye for the present, hoping to hear from you soon, with love from somewhere in muddy France, and God bless you.

Long life, health and happiness