Madam Hooch Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 This image of my Grandfather, is the only tangible record of him, his name Corporal Ronald Fredrick Rowley. My Aunt (101yrs) is most insistent that he was a rough rider and Grandad and his Sgt Bert Brookes rescued a group of horses from a burning barn. They were up for comendation but we dont know if this happend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 MH There doesn't appear to be a picture. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 12 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Cant figure out how to upload the photo Cant figure out how to upload the photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sounds like your image might be too large 100KB maximum,try reducing the image size! Then we'll try & help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 12 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 August , 2006 The image was to large Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 The Cap Badge is Royal Artillery{RFA/RGA/RHA} The Sleeve badge is a "Skill @ Driving" Badge [Crowned Whips Crossed & Spur] granted for Best Driver In the Battery Prize for Horse Driving [Ref: #25C;British Army Proficiency Badges~by our own illustrious Grumpy] The Medal Index Cards indicate L/416 Corporal Ronald Rowley Royal Field Artillery{"L" indicates a "Local" enlistment,similar to the "Pals" Battalions for the Infantry I believe,& were formed into Local Batteries} A super Photo!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 The CWGC site has: Name: ROWLEY Initials: R F Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Serjeant Regiment/Service: Royal Warwickshire Regiment Unit Text: 11th Bn. Date of Death: 27/10/1915 Service No: 9869 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 2. Cemetery: BIENVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY Could that be him? What part of the country was he from? Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 The Cap Badge is Royal Artillery{RFA/RGA/RHA} The Sleeve badge is a "Skill @ Driving" Badge Hmmm, well if that's the case, there's a Reginald Frederick Rowley on the CWGC who was with the Royal Field Artillery. But he's the son of a Sir and Lady - and you'd think there might be more details about someone like that! (not to mention the chap in the photo look older than 21) Name: ROWLEY, REGINALD FREDERICK Initials: R F Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery Unit Text: 462nd Bty. Age: 21 Date of Death: 21/03/1918 Additional information: Son of the late Lt. Col. Sir George Charles Erskine Rowley, 3rd Bart., and of Lady Rowley, of Aldersey Cottage, London Rd., Guildford. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. A. 5. Cemetery: GRAND-SERAUCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY Then we have: Name: ROWLEY, ROLAND Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn. Date of Death: 13/10/1915 Service No: 3442 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 103 to 105. Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL (But that isn't the Artillery) Name: ROWLEY Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery Unit Text: "A" Bty. 243rd Bde. Date of Death: 21/08/1916 Service No: 295 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 20. Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILE WOOD That's Artillery but wrong rank... Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilbury Welsh Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 [ My Aunt (101yrs) is most insistent that he was a rough rider] Hi MH and welcome to the forum. Chums, excuse my ignorance, but what is a rough rider........ John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Rough rider was/is the official army term for what others might call 'Assistant Instructor, equitation' [no ranks below officer were other than 'assistant' instructors of whatever]. The badge was a spur. Unlike the driving prize badges, it was a badge of appointment and thus worn upper right sleeve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Madam Hooch, My Great Grandfather was a Driver RFA. He carried out his 'rough rider training' [the very words used by my Thomas McCluskey to describe his horsemanship training] near Edinburgh. Which incidentally was the place he had to report to should he be called up again. He also described some kind of leather stiffened gaiter device, worn on the lower leg, used for driving the horses. The badge on Corporal Ronald Fredrick Rowley's lower left arm is that of a 1st Prize Driver. It is almost likely that Corporal Ronald Fredrick Rowley is RFA or RHA due to the percentage of drivers with these units in comparison to the RGA (who used horses, steam traction units, eventually some tracked vehicles, or were static). Hope this helps Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 12 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Thanks everyone, but Grandad was a Corporal and I know he was at the Somme and survived, he died age 52 before WWII started. MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Oh, sorry. I thought because you said the photo was 'the only tangible record' of him that he must have died in the war. Although 52 is certainly young to die as well! Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 13 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Yes 52 is young he was gassed and died of cancer. I suppose when you really think about it there is quite alot of relevant information, and I can now remember my Aunt saying he had won a prize and this is evident now with the insignia on the sleeve of his jacket has been dentified. Another question, how can I find out more information re his military history? MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Well, first stop is the National Archives at Kew. As Harry showed above, his medal card is there and lists his service number. It'll cost you £3.50 to order a digital copy online. Medal Card link Next step is the pension records - is it possible that since he was gassed that he was on a war pension? As you probably know, a huge percentage of WW1 files were destroyed in the blitz (about 70% of them), leaving most people with only the medal index files to work from. However, if the soldier in question was pensioned, the files were kept in a separate place (Ministry of Pensions or some such) - which wasn't bombed in the blitz. So those records exist. I don't know where they're kept, though. Maybe also at the National Archives? Although your Granddad shows up as only having a medal card at the National Archives, as far as I can tell. Someone else may be able to point you in the right place for those. Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Hi All, A picture of a Bombardier Rough Rider, and an excerpt from Clothing Regulations 1914, Page 117: Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Hi all, Along with an indication of Corps and appointment, badges of Instruction are also worn on the upper right arm. hope this helps Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 13 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Hi all, Along with an indication of Corps and appointment, badges of Instruction are also worn on the upper right arm. hope this helps Tom McC That is a nice image I have made some interesting discoveries, but how do you access records in Kew when you live in NZ? I tried to search pensions still trying! MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Ah, had no idea you were another kiwi. And a Harry Potter fan at that. I'm lucky to have Big Sis living in London. If I send her pineapple lumps, I get searches. You can pay a researcher to do go to Kew for you. I've not done that, so you'll have to rely on someone else to tell you how to go about it. Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madam Hooch Posted 13 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2006 Ah, had no idea you were another kiwi. And a Harry Potter fan at that. I'm lucky to have Big Sis living in London. If I send her pineapple lumps, I get searches. You can pay a researcher to do go to Kew for you. I've not done that, so you'll have to rely on someone else to tell you how to go about it. Allie Yes pineapple lumps will do it every time Thanks for everyones help so far MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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