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Thread: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

  1. #1
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    Default Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    I need urgent help of our site's expert Merchant Navy researchers:

    After 50 years separation from an aunt by marriage(who is only three years older than me), and were dear friends, but through a bitter family feud we lost contact, we are now back in contact.

    I found out that her father was in the M.N. and perished in 1942 on an arctic convoy, all in all he was torpedoed three times and the last one got him.

    Here's what I know. name. Gilbert Rowland. Ship unknown but believed to be of Panamanian registry. date of sinking. 1942. occupation. Fireman. place of birth. Wales

    Slim information, but I've read the brilliant results you guys come up with less information

    Could you tell me also what decoration his daughter can apply for and from whom. The name of his ship, what ships he served on. Anything you can find would be gratefully received.

    The urgency is she is ill, to what degree I have been afraid to ask at this degree of our so recent contact. Her sons, my cousins are due to contact me too, but I doubt if they would have any additional information.

    Thanking you in advance, Rodney

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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Hello Rodney
    At this stage i have not yet found his name on the list of Men that died in the Convoys, dont know why but will look into it.
    These are the names of those of that Surname that are listed for Convoy Deaths.

    Initial Search for vessel
    Vessel

    9 records found for ROWLAND
    ROWLAND, ALBERT EDWARD. ABLE SEAMAN. M.V. HOPETARN (Newcastle on Tyne). Merchant Navy. 10th June 1945. .
    ROWLAND, Second Radio Officer, ALFRED, S.S. Napier Star (London).
    ROWLAND, Able Seaman, ALFRED ARTHUR, D/JX 167754. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy.
    ROWLAND, Fourth Engineer Officer, BENJAMIN JOHN, M.V. Silvercedar (London).
    ROWLAND, JOHN THOMAS. ORDINARY SEAMAN. M.V. VICTOLITE (Victoria). Canadian Merchant Navy. .
    ROWLAND, First Radio Officer, PERCY ERIC, S.S. Baltistan (London).
    ROWLAND, Able Seaman, RONALD PERCY, D/JX 215974. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy.
    ROWLAND, Master, STEPHEN ARCHIBALD, S.S. East Wales (Cardiff).
    ROWLAND, Leading Seaman, WILLIAM FRANCIS, P/JX 217520. H.M.S. President III. Royal Navy.

    Also no record of him through my usual channel Deaths at Sea.
    Will look at the Archives later and see if anything comes up there.
    Cheers
    Also will help me if you have a Year of Birth please and possibly Place in Wales any second initials ??

    Is the Surname for sure spelt correctly, or could there be an s at the end (Rowlands)

    Could he have had a Double Barrel Surname ? ( Rowland-Hill, James B G )
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 4th December 2020 at 09:47 PM.
    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

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  4. #3
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Nothing shows up so far at CWGC.

    Keith.

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  6. #4
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
    Keith at Tregenna Guest

    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Vernon View Post
    Hello Rodney
    At this stage i have not yet found his name on the list of Men that died in the Convoys, dont know why but will look into it.
    These are the names of those of that Surname that are listed for Convoy Deaths.


    Hope this list works.

    K.

    Name
    Events
    Relationships
    View
    D G Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    birth:
    1896
    Cardiganshire
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G J Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    birth:
    Anglesey
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    D G Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G T Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G S Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    D G Rowland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rollings
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rolands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    A G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G W Rolland
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rollason
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    Alfred G A Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    W G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    W G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    J G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    W G Rawlingson
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    G Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details
    Rowlands
    Principal
    United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941
    birth:
    1827
    Anglesey
    military service:
    United Kingdom
    View the record details

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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Thanks guys. My three year older Aunt (Ha) Sylvia Phoned me last night and we had a long, long talk after a fifty year absence. She originally gave me some erroneous information originally via email.

    Following is the corrected info.

    Name. Frederick Henry Rowlands.
    Born: 10th July 1905. Abergavveny, Wales. died 27th March, 1942, Arctic Convoy
    Ship: Panamanian.
    Country of registration: assumed Panama
    Position: Fireman

    She remembers when the family was notified, she was seven years old, and her mother often spoke of the tragedy. They were living in Gwnfrrwyn (Whitebrook) Monmouthshire, Wales at the time.

    It seems straight poop, because she once had a box of papers and medals and ribbons. During her marriage to my late uncle (urghh! and good) the cause of the family rift, they moved 40 odd times and the box was lost somewhere. She has two surviving sisters, She called them and they tell the same story about his death.

    If you can find him, could you tell me How she can find out what medals he would be entitled to. What was issued. How to replace lost medals. I don't expect you to know the answer to all my questions, but everything you can find is more than is known now.

    After the death of Frederick and the end of the Battle of Britain, the mother and daughters moved back to London.

    I hope this helps and I do thank you for your efforts, but I knew before I posted that you would give it your all.

    Cheers, Rodney

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  10. #6
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    FIREMAN AND TRIMMER
    FREDERICK HENRY ROWLANDS


    Regiment & Unit/Ship
    Merchant Navy

    S.S. Bateau (Panama)

    Date of Death
    Died 27 March 1942

    Age 36 years old

    https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...RY%20ROWLANDS/

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Keith at Tregenna View Post
    S.S. Bateau (Panama)


    The Panamanian steamship BATEAU SS was built in by Riuniti, Palermo, Italy as the Italian Cargo ship Euro SS. In 1941 she was renamed BATEAU SS. She was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire from three German destroyers on March 29th, 1942, on a voyage from Iceland to Murmansk. Forty of her crew were killed. Six survivors were picked up by the destroyers.

    https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?133591

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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    As above a wee bit more

    ROWLANDS, Fireman and Trimmer, FREDERICK HENRY, S.S. Bateau (Panama), Merchant Navy. 27th March 1942. Age 36. Son of Frederick and Elizabeth Rowlands; husband of Dorothy Rowlands, of Canning Town, Essex. Panel 15.(Tower Hill).



    Besides above info Rodney there seems to be no Records for him, but that is normal when one had died at Sea in Convoys or other. The only place that may hold Records is the Southampton Archives of Merchant Seaman , in their Original Archives. Email them and ask the Question giving as much info as possible. Others have done same and got good results
    Cheers


    Tower Hill Panel 15

    Tower Hill:|WW2 Memorial Panels 11 to 20 (benjidog.co.uk)
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 5th December 2020 at 08:31 PM.
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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Southamptons Maritime Collections (mariners-list.com) For Rodney look for Email Contact Details Rodders!
    Cheers
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 5th December 2020 at 09:07 PM.
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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    You did it, well done, that's him and that's his wife, Sylvia's mother, Well bloody done both of you. If you could find anything about what medals he should get and who to apply to she would be over the moon.

    Many, many thanks, such speed too! you guys are marvels.

    A grateful Rodney

    - - - Updated - - -

    Sorry Doc. I'm lost, what should I do with the link?

  15. #10
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help wanted in research of a WWII casualty

    Will look for more ASAP but, most will be on the person / family etc.

    Keith.

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