Basic Details
Surname
Rowsell
Forenames
Herbert Greaves
Gender
Male
Information stated on memorial
Served or died
Died
Notes
His biography on the College website (see References) reads as follows: 'Herbert Greaves Rowsell, Private, Royal Fusiliers, Captain, Hampshire Regiment. Herbert Greaves Rowsell matriculated in October 1907, after attending Fauconberg School, Beccles. Born: Beccles, Suffolk on 20 March 1888, Fell in action: 3 September 1916.
Lawn tennis at Jesus - He was active at sports while here, in particular hockey, football and tennis. At the latter he was one of the beneficiaries of a new asphalt tennis court which was installed, at the cost of £50, in 1909. At this time the tennis courts were where the car park near the football pitch is now. Chanticlere reported that “performers are on view there almost every afternoon and it is hoped that the practice thus afforded would bear fruit next term” (Lent Term 1909, p8). Sadly the Lawn Tennis team were hit by “illness and examinations” and they did not perform particularly well in Easter Term. Rowsell was not given a very good report: “has some good strokes, but back-hand work rather weak, and inclined to fall off in a losing game” (Chanticlere, Easter Term 1909, p48). He fared rather better in 1910 when he had “often played excellently”. He graduated with a BA in 1910, having taken papers, but not the Tripos, in Theology.
Suffolk County footballer - He played at full back in the College football team, in goal for the hockey team and jumped both the high jump and the “broad” jump, as well as running the 120 yards hurdle race, winning the latter in 20⅘ seconds in November 1909. According to a newspaper clipping he also played football for Suffolk County on several occasions.
Missionary - After he left College he read Theology at the Bishop’s Hostel in Farnham, Surrey before joining the Archbishop’s Mission to Western Canada where he stayed for two years as a layman.
He enlisted at the outbreak of war and after receiving his commission was quickly promoted to Captain. In December 1915 he married Marjorie Helen Montford, just three months before he went to the front in March 1916. He was killed in action in September 1916 (Jesus College Society Annual Report 1917, p35).'
Primary Service
Our References
Service (Primary - Our reference)
Unit (Primary - Our reference)
Rank / Title (Primary - Our reference)
Death and Burial details
Country of death
France
Town of death
Somme
Country of burial
France
Town of burial
Serre, Somme
Cemetery
Serre Road British Military Cemetery No 2
Year of death
1916
Month of death
September
Day of death
3
Age at death
28
Manner of death reference
Killed in Action
Personal Details
Occupation
Not Stated on Memorial