Sergeant Eric ROWLAND 1050936

On 15 November 1941, Sergeant Eric Rowland was the Wireless Operator aboard Wellington Mk.IV R1775. The crew of R1775 on this day were:

Pilot                        P/O Furey, Ronald John             AUS404332

Co-Pilot                  Sgt Cox, Alexander Lewis          AUS400460

Observer                P/O Goldman, William               AUS400403

W/O                        Sgt Rowland, Eric                     1050936

Air Gunner, Front   Sgt Pepper, Douglas Bertram    946888

Air Gunner, Rear    Sgt Duffield, Henry William      74553    

The 458 Sqn Operational Record Book states that that R1775 took off from RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor at 17:17 with the target as Emden, Germany. The record of events simply states that they did not return to base and that the last communication was received at 20:35.

 Wg Cdr Mulholland wrote in his circumstantial report that “Three Q.D.M.s were given to this aircraft at approximately the time of E.T.A. at target, the last being strength 6. Nothing further was heard from this aircraft, and a square search by 7 aircraft as far East as 3 degrees East failed to reveal any information as to their whereabouts.” A QDM is a Magnetic heading to steer.

 As mentioned by Mulholland and by the newspaper clipping below, 458 Sqn sent out 7 aircraft on 16 November 1941 to search the North Sea for evidence of R1775. Sgt Opas was a member of one of the crews sent to conduct the search, in a letter home he wrote: “Up to the time this letter goes to press I’ve done 6 trips & 1 North Sea sweep looking for one of our planes that came down in the said sea.”    

                                            “News” newspaper, Adelaide, Wednesday 26 November 1941, Page 1

CWGC Link: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2940664/eric-rowland/

Parents:Gregory Rowland and Margaret Jane née Anderson, of 52 Park Road, Consett, Durham

DoB: 25 March 1914

Occupation pre-war: Brickworks Clerk

Father was Battery Foreman in Coke Works (possibly Consett Iron Co. Ltd), younger brothers ‘William Anderson’ and ‘Gregory’ (Jr.) also worked at Coke Works. Elder brother John George not at home in 1939, but is on 1921 census. Sister, Olive married Alan Peacock in 1942 (see newspaper clipping), other sister Margaret.

(family details: source 1921 census/1939 register/newspaper)