Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Francis Rowley was born at Griffith Green, Claverley, in 1886 and was baptised at Claverley Church on 24th October. He was the son of John Rowley, labourer (later 'corn miller') and his wife, Sarah Ann. By 1911 the Rowleys were living in Pattingham. Frank married Bertha Blakemore in the summer of 1911.
Frank enlisted at Wolverhampton in December 1914, joining the 1st Battalion of the South Staffs Regiment. He went to France on 25th March 1915. The 1st South Staffs were part of 7th Division which took part in a number of battles in 1915, including Festubert and Loos. It spent 1916 fighting on the Somme. Frank Rowley was killed in Action on 28th March 1917 during the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. He is buried in St Leger British Cemetery. The CWGC record his rank as Lance-Corporal but this is not reflected in any of the other surviving records.
Private Frank Rowley, 16495, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star. His brother John Stephen Rowley is also commemorated on the Pattingham War Memorial. Another Brother, Albert, is not on the memorial but is buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Grave in Pattingham Churchyard. Frank's youngest brother, Jesse, is named on the Roll of Honour in Pattingham Church. Jesse's military record has survived and shows that he attested 11 Dec 1915, was mobilised 6 Apr 1916 and served in the home theatre in various labour battalions, ending in the 423 Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. He was demobilized on the 4th March, 1919.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.