Able Seaman Albert Henry Rowe
R/5048 Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve, Royal Naval Division, 1st Brigade, 4th (Collingwood) Battalion
Albert Henry Rowe was born on 15th July 1898 at Newhaven, Sussex the son Joseph William Rowe and Elizabeth Jane (nee Walters).
His father Joseph, born Somercotes, Derbyshire served for over 30 years in the Royal Navy and the Coastguard Service. Albert’s brothers Joseph Arthur and William also served in WW1. They are all also listed on the Jacksdale War Memorial as having served.
Albert joined the Royal Naval Reserve in July 1917 serving with the 4th Reserve (Hawke) Battalion as part of the British Expeditionary Force, embarking from Folkestone for Boulogne, France on 23rd April 1918. The Royal Naval Division was formed from naval reserve forces when naval warships were already fully crewed. The RND served ashore alongside the army but still came under Admiralty control and observed naval traditions. They used naval jargon such ‘going ashore’ and ‘coming on board’ even whilst serving on land. Time was measured in bells. They were unpopular with some Army commanders who disliked their naval attachment and thought they should be fully assimilated into the Army. The RND sustained great losses during WW1 and served in Antwerp, Ancre, Gallipoli, Salonika, Passchendaele and The Hindenburg Line.
Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain)
Albert’s service record notes that his religion was Church of England and his next of kin was his mother Elizabeth Rowe of Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. Albert was a recipient of the Victory and British War Medals.
Further family history can be found on his father’s and brothers’ pages on this website.