Born in 1891 at Plymouth, son of William Philip Quick Rowe (Royal Navy Gunner) and Emma Rowe. 1891: Aged 2 months, living with his mother and sister Ruth at 21 Longfield Terrace, Plymouth. His father was likely at sea. 1901: He was a Scholar living with his mother and sister at 4 Victoria Road, Wyke Regis, in Dorset where he grew up, and from where he enlisted.
He joined the Dorset Regiment at Weymouth on 2nd February 1909 at the age of 18 and gave his occupation as a Student. He served with the 1st Battalion from 1909 until 23rd November 1914. He arrived in France on 16th August 1914, and sustained a gunshot wound to the buttock at St Omer on 13th October 1914, and was sent back to England on 18th October 1914 .He had qualified for a 1914 star and “Mons” clasp.
While recovering he was attached to 3 Dorsets, and did not rejoin his original Battalion. Instead he was promoted to Lance Sergeant and posted to 4 Battalion Nigeria Regiment of the West Africa Frontier Force. He joined the SS “Falaba”, sailing on 27th March 1915, but the ship was torpedoed and sunk by Baron Forstner in the U.28. He set off again on 17th April 1915, arriving in West Africa on 6th May 1915. He left there on leave during 4th June 1916, arriving in England on 20th September 1916. He landed back in Africa for his second tour on 31st December 1916. When this was over he embarked on the SS “Burutu” for Liverpool. However this collided with the “City of Calcutta” some 25 miles south west of Bardsey Island in St Georges Channel during the stormy night of 3/4th October 1918, and sank very quickly. Albert Rowe was one of those lost and not recovered.
On his death the family home was at 6 Hillview Villas, George Lane, South Woodford, later at 46 George Lane South Woodford. His sister as only remaining next of kin would later inherit his medals. More recently a private collector managed to reunite both these medals and the memorial plaque; they remain together in private hands.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com