Rowland Evans was born at Wrexham in 1893. His parents were Rowland and Jane Evans. Rowland was the eldest of 5 brothers – Thomas, who died in 1902, Ogwen, Idwal and Rhodes. The family lived at 72a Albert Road, Oswestry. Rowland worked at the Cambrian Railway works as a joiner / coach builder. He was also a territorial soldier in 4 Bn Kings Shropshire Light infantry joining in April 1912. At the outbreak of war he was promoted Corporal and then went with the battalion to Rangoon, India, arriving on 10 December 1914. (His Sergeant was Henry Tudor)

In January 1915, the battalion was called out to quell a mutiny in a Native Infantry Battalion. The mutiny was quickly suppressed but unrest among the native troops continued. In February native troops in Singapore mutinied and the KSLI was quickly despatched to there. Again the uprising was put down and the ringleaders executed. Tensions remained with other mutinies quickly beng put down. In March 1915 part of the battalion, including Rowland and other Oswestry men, was posted to garrison Hong Kong to guard against unrest and protect British civilians. The battalion remained in Singapore and Hong Kong until January 1917 when they transferred back to Europe and the Western Front.

Whilst at Hong Kong, in October 1916, Rowland was admitted to hospital diagnosed with TB. There had been a history of TB in his family, his father having died of it circa 1905. He was evacuated to England and, following a medical examination in January 1917 an Army Medical Board discharged him under King’s Regulations Para. 392. Rowland died a few weeks later on 2 March 1917. He is buried at Seion Chapel, Park Avenue, Oswestry – also interred is his younger brother, Thomas. Rowland  was awarded the Territorial Forces Medal

Rowland, seated left, with unidentified colleagues from 4 Bn KSLI, Hong Kong.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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