ARCHDALL William Rowley

William Rowley (Roy) was born on 28 August 1891 in Brisbane. He was the eldest son of William Roley Archdall, (Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax 1915) and Margaret Daly, who had 3 sons and 6 daughters born in Brisbane. They are descendents of the Archdall family in Ireland.

Roy resided in Woodford, Brisbane, and was an accounts clerk.

Roy enlisted with the AIF on 26 May, 1915 at Brisbane. He embarked Brisbane on HMAT A9 "Shropshire" on the 20 August 1915, with the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance AIF 2nd Reinforcement.

On 22 January 1916, William Rowley was a Mustered H/Driver, Egypt, and on 11 August 1816, he was appointed Lance Corporal.

William Rowley then served in France with the No.3 Aust. Field Ambulance, and on 22 January 1917, 4177 L/Corp. WRA was commended for the Military Medal by Major-General H.B. Walker, Commanding 1st Aust. Div.

Action for which commended: At the Chalk Pit near Pozieres on the night of 21 Aug 1916, L/Cpl Archdall was carrying a patient when a shell hit the squad, killing one and wounding two others including the patient. Though badly shocked L/Cpl obtained assistance and conveyed the patient to safety. He was urged to go off duty then, but continued to work through the night under heavy fire. He showed great bravery and devotion to duty when he would have been quite justified in discontinuing owing to his own bad condition.

The Military Medal was awarded in England, on 21 February, 1917.

William Rowland was sent to Cadet School for Officer training in France and England, on 28 August 1918, and was appointed Lieutenant on 2 February 1918 in England, with the 4th Battalion Rifles.

William Rowland (Roy) Maxwell returned to Australia on 13 April 1919 as a Subaltern.

In 1919 was a Bank Clerk in Maleny, and in 1923 he married Myrtle Winifred Brady. Roy had progressed to Bank Manager in Cooroy in 1925, and was a Bank Manager in Cairns in 1936 and 1943.

Roy lived in Smith St., Mooloolaba in 1954 until his death on 5 December, 1956.

His wife, Myrtle, ( a Shop Proprietress in Mooloolaba) lived there until her death in 1990.

They were survived by a son - William Rowley, who was born in 1924, and died in 2010 at Cleveland, Brisbane.

Shire of Noosa Roll of Honor, Shire Council Chambers, Pelican Street, Tewantin