Aircraftman 2nd Class 1108295 Robert Rankin McHarry Rowlands

Family details:
Son of Robert David and Sara Rowlands, of St. Helens.

Census details:
1939 Register. Unfortunately Robert R and one other member of the household are redacted. Father Robert D Rowlands born 20/11/1898 a Contractors Man (Heavy Worker) Miner Underground Coal, mother Sara Rowlands born 12/03/1896 an Unpaid Domestic and brother Richard Rowlands born 03/05/1923 a Haulage Hand Underground Coal (Heavy Worker) are living at 29 Railway Street, St Helens.

[pic]imgs/sppics/handley_page_hampden2.jpg[/pic] [b][caption]Hampden Bombers as flown by 83 Squadron at the time of Robert Rowlands death[/caption][/b] [b]No 83 Squardron [/b]was operational from the first day of WW2 Searching the North Sea for German Shipping. The Squadron was based at RAF Scampton Linconshire, Flying Handley Page Hampden Bombers. Due to Heavy losses the squadron switched to nightime operatons and commenced bombing ground targets on the 20/04/1940. During August 1940 the Squadron made its first raids on Berlin as well as attacking the German battleships Tirpitz, Scharnhorst and Von Scheer. During WW2 The Squadron won 429 Decorations and Honours including 209 Distinguished Flying Crosses. One of the most famous Pilots of this squadron was Guy Gibson VC who earned his first DFC before taking command of 617 Squadron the Dam Busters who were also based at RAF Scampton. No doubt Robert Rowlands would have met Gibson. [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/RowlandsRR.jpg[/pic] [caption]The headstone of Aircraftman Robert Rankin McHarry Rowlands at St Helens Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]