ARCHIBALD, Rowland Heyland

Rowland was a son of John and Charlotte Archibald of North Sydney NSW. His birth was registered at Moruya in 1886. He attended Chatswood School in Sydney, then studied at Hawkesbury Agricultural College.  He was a Farmer at Mt. Russell when he enlisted as Rowley Heyland Archibald at Inverell in September 1915. Prior to his departure his Inverell friends presented him with an inscribed gold wrist watch.

Rowland joined the 3rd Battalion, 13th Reinforcement and left Australia on HMAT A60 Aeneas in December 1915. After arriving in Egypt in February 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion then the 45th Battalion before being sent to France the following month. In August he was wounded in action and sent to England.  He was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg and did not return to France until December 1916.

Within two months he was suffering from Trench Foot and sent to England for treatment. By the end of September he was back with his Battalion only to be wounded again and invalided to England with a gunshot wound to his back. Four months later he rejoined his battalion, was wounded and sent back to England for the fourth time. After four months he went back to France where he was killed in action on 28 September 1918.  Rowland was buried at Bullecourt British Cemetery,France. His personal effects were returned to his Mother and included a leather case, souvenir metal watch, 2 diaries, spectacles in a case, letters and photos.

At Inverell Rowland’s name is inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.