Raymond Charles Thomas Rowles was born on Monday, 29th June 1896 at No. 4, 5 Court, Eastover, Bridgwater, the son the William and Annie Rowles (née Chappell) of Bridgwater,
a ‘Timber Yard Labourer’.
In the 1911 census he is age 14 and his occupation is ‘Cutting Shirt Collars’.
He is living with his parents at 4 Bath Terrace, Eastover, Bridgwater.
The 2nd/5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, was raised at Taunton in September 1914 as a Second Line Battalion, part of 135th Brigade, 2nd Wessex Division. They were sent to India to replace regular army units who were returning home to join the BEF in France and on the 12th December 1914 they landed in India. The Division was broken up on arrival and the 2nd/5th Battalion became divisional troops with the Burma Division. In January 1916 they transferred to the Rangoon brigade in the same Division. They remained in India for the duration of the War.
He was disembodied on 12th November 1919. He was awarded a War Pension as he suffered from
‘Debility after Influenza’.
He married Frances Gracie Redman in 1921 at Bridgwater. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.
Note the ‘Good Conduct Stripe’ on his left arm.
He was awarded the ‘Territorial Force War Medal’ in August 1922.
In the ‘1939 Register’ he is living at 45 Kendale Road, Bridgwater. His occupation is given as ‘Painter & Decorator’.
He died in 1943 at Bridgwater, age 47. He is buried at St. George’s Church, Wembdon, Bridgwater.
