Pte 16841 Idwal Rowlands

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.F.5

Idwal Rowlands was born in 1897 and baptised on the 17th May 1897 at Liverpool. He was the son of Evan and his wife Jane Lewis Rowlands. They were both originally from Montgomeryshire, where their two eldest children were born before Evan and Jane moved to Liverpool.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 3 Hayfield Street off Blessington Road, Everton, when Evan was employed as a railway guard.

The 1901 Census shows the family now living at 20 Bodley Street, Everton. His father, Evan, aged 39, born in Llanrhaiard, Montgomeryshire in 1862 is a foreman railway shunter as was his mother Jane aged 41, born in 1860 and has no occupation listed. At the time of the Census, they have seven children. The children are Ernest aged 16, born 1885 and employed as a electrical engineers clerk, Annie aged 15, born 1886, May aged 13, born 1888, Whitfield aged 11, born 1890, Margaret aged 10, born 1891, Edith aged 5, born 1896 and Idwal aged 4, born 1897. They also have their brother in law Robert Lewis aged 28, born 1873 employed as an electric car driver

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 140 Venmore Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, Evan, is now aged 48, (Census shows year of birth as 1863) is a railway foreman, his wife Jane aged 52, (now showing born 1859) and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty seven years and have had eleven children of which four had died. At the time of the Census, they have five children living with them, May aged 23, is a saleswoman for a drapery company, Whitfield aged 21,is a railway porter, Margaret aged 20, is at home, Edith aged 15, is atyping clerk and Idwal aged 14 is a scholar.

He enlisted at St George's Hall on the 01^st September 1914 at Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16841. He gave his age as 18 years and 300 days, and his occupation as a clerk and his next of kin as his father of 140 Venmore Street. He was five feet five inches tall, weighed 113lbs, fresh complexion, hazel coloured eyes, brown hair and he stated his religion as Protestant (other).

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He embarked for France with his battalion on 7^th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

10.4.16-18.16: Leave in the UK.

02.5.16: He was admitted to 96^th Field Ambulance suffering from “ICT foot”, i.e. inflammation of the connective tissue or “trench foot”.

07.5.16: He returned to his Unit.

He was killed in action on the  28^th May 1916, aged 19.

Idwal was reported as killed in action in the Liverpool Echo on 09th June 1916:

ROWLANDS—May 28, aged 19 years. Private Idwal Rowlands (The King's), youngest son of Mrs.Rowlands and the late Evan Rowlands, 140, Venmore street, Anfleld.

He now rests at Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery, Grave II F 5.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.  The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

(CWGC shows that his mother at the time of the installation of the headstone upon his grave, was living at 317 Walton Breck Road). 

Soldiers Effects to mother Jane and brother John David and his belongings included 5 letters, 2 photos, cap badge, steel mirror, pen, pencil, cloth badge, label with address.

Pension to his mother Jane.

Idwal and Thomas Owen Rowlands had consecutive army numbers and may have been related. 

Idwal is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 46 as J Rowlands. 

We currently have no further information on Idwal Rowlands, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.