John Francis ‘Frank’ Rowan

ROWAN, John Francis -‘Frank’- – – – SPC 1904-1905

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DoB:- – 1891, Nirranda, near Warrnambool, VIC

Father:- – James Rowan

Mother:- – Winifred, nee Mursan

Frank Rowan was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Queenscliff.

Service No:- 4600

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 14th Battalion, later Anzac Police Corps

Frank Rowan enlisted in the AIF on 18 August 1915. He was a single man, aged 24 years and three months, whose occupation was farmer. He was five feet, seven inches tall, with a medium complexion, grey eyes and black hair.

On 18 February 1916, Private Rowan embarked from Melbourne, disembarking at Egypt on 22 March 1916. He was assigned to the Anzac Police Corps at Tel-el-Kebir on 12 April 1916.

In May 1916 he was admitted to hospital in Cairo suffering from pyrexia (fever), and the following month was transferred to hospital in Montazah suffering gastro enteritis. He was transferred to Alexandria for further treatment, as by July he was suffering from dysentery. He was in and out of hospital very frequently over 1917 and 1918, suffering from pyrexia or gastric complaints.

On 10 February 1919 he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Corporal. He was returned to Australia on 1 September 1919, aboard the Burma.

Frank settled in Victoria in Warrnambool at 8 Fitzroy Road, and worked as a farmer and labourer. He married at the age of 42 years, to Alice Mary Griffin. They had no children. Frank died on 26 July 1981, aged 90 years, the cause of his death being congestive cardiac failure. He was buried at the Warrnambool Cemetery.