Person    | Male 

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Company Serjeant Major Charles Frederick Rowley. Born in 1886 in Peckham, the son of Charles William Rowley and Alice Agnes Jessie Rowley, née Lynn. His father was a Bricklayers Labourer. The 1891 census shows him living with his family at 16 Green Hundred Road, Peckham. The 1901 census shows the family at 36 Blue Anchor Lane, Rotherhithe, and he is recorded as a 14 year old Office Boy. On 30 July 1903 he signed up for a three year short service appointment in the army and on 2 August 1903 was posted to the 2^nd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 7745. His Attestation Records show his religious denomination to be Wesleyan and that he was 5’4¼” tall. On 2 April 1904  he requested to extend his service to eight years, which was granted. He applied to be transferred to the 1^st Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment on 6 September 1905 for the purpose of proceeding to India where served from 5 October 1905 to 22 February 1911. His service number was 8504. On 2 June 1908 he was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) and became a Lance Corporal (paid) on 26 October 1909. The 1911 census shows him at home, still single, with his family at 142 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich and he is recorded as a Soldier L/Cpl 2^nd West Riding Reg. He left the regiment and entered the Army Reserve on 15 May 1911. In April 1913 he was appointed as a Postman in the Western District Office. He was mobilized on 5 August 1914 rejoining the 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 September 1914. He entered France on 30 November 1914 and whilst at North Shields, Northumberland, he was promoted twice, to Serjeant on 1 January 1915 and to Acting Company Quarter Master Serjeant on 16 January 1915. At some point he was transferred to the 3^rd Battalion and subsequently transferred to the 8^th Battalion on 25 November 1915. From March to May 1916 he saw service in Eygpt. On 31 July 1916 he travelled from Folkestone to Boulogne, France. He died on 28 September 1916. His father received his effects on 7 August 1917, totalling £27-17s-6d and on 8 March 1920 he was sent a War Gratuity of £19. His mother wrote to the War Office to ascertain the location of his grave and was told initially that he was buried 1 mile north of Courcelette and 4½ miles NNE of Albert, France, with a durable wooden cross to mark the spot. However the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list him as having no known grave and he is commemorated on Pier and Face 6A and 6B of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was posthumously awarded The 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal 1914-1918 and The Victory Medal.

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