Thiepval Memorial
Lamesley St Andrew Churchyard
Photo: Dorothy Hall
Medal Card
In Lamesley St Andrew churchyard is a family headstone which reads
In ever loving memory
of
Robert
dearly Beloved son of
Thomas & Margaret
of Kibblesworth
who was killed in action
September 15th 1916
Aged 32 years
Also of their son
Thomas Henry Rowell
who died December 7th 1917
Aged 39 years
The above
Thomas Rowell
Died March 3rd 1926
Aged 77 years
The above
Margaret Rowell
Died May 8th 1927
Aged 77 years
Thy will be done
The second headstone on the double grave reads:-
In loving memory of
Elizabeth
dearly beloved wife of
John George Rowell
of Kibblesworth
who died May 22nd 1915
aged 41 years
Thy will be done
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Robert was born at Kibblesworth in 1884 the son of Thomas and his wife Margaret (nee Ingram) who lived in 3 roomed accommodation at 9 Chapel Row Kibblesworth. The couple had 9 children together, 2 of whom died. Thomas (senior) worked as a colliery winding engineman.
His remaining siblings were John George, Thomas, Mary, Joseph, Hugh, Johnson and Albert.
In 1901 several of the lads were working. Thomas (senior) was now a stationary winding engineman, John George a furnace man above ground, Thomas a joiner whilst Robert was a commercial clerk. The family were located at 10 Pond Row still at Kibblesworth.
By 1911 the family were still living at Pond Row, although by this time the siblings were making their own lives. Robert was working as a shop assistant at a glass dealers', Hugh a fireman, Johnson a shop assistant, Albert a clerk at the telephone company.
Robert enlisted into the army at Gateshead serving with 1/5th Battalion D.L.I. The 1/5th Battalion D.L.I was raised at Stockton in August 1914. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne on 18 April 1915 and joined 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
They saw action in the Second Battle of Ypres then later on the Somme in 1916.
Robert was killed in action on 19 September 1916 aged 32 years. His death may have occurred during heavy fighting at the Battle of Flers Courcelette which raged between 15-22 September 1916.
He left an estate of £225 11s. 7d to his mother.
At the time of his death his parents were living at 10 Chapel Row, Kibblesworth.
Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Robert’s younger brother, Albert also joined the army about 1915. He served with the Coldstream Guards and survived the war. His medical record showed he was admitted to hospital with flat foot (right) then later with a more serious condition ie gonorrhoea.
Robert Rowell is remembered at Kibblesworth on K23.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 250
