Australian Dictionary of Biography

Sergeant William Josiah Rowlinson DCM, c.1952

Australian War Memorial, P01929.001

William Josiah Rowlinson (1920–1998), soldier, was born on 22 July 1920 at Manly, Sydney, third of six children of Gilbert Douglas Rowlinson, carpenter, and his wife Pearl May Rowlinson, née Gates, both New South Wales born. Bill attended Manly West Public School and North Sydney Boys’ High School, concluding his education at sub-intermediate level, and becoming a wireless mechanic. In July 1938 he joined the 17th Battalion, Citizen Military Forces, and after World War II broke out transferred to the 2/7th Armoured Regiment of the Second Australian Imperial Force in June 1941. Eager to see combat, in December 1943 he took demotion from sergeant to private in order to serve with the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion, but never deployed overseas. He volunteered in September 1945 to participate in army medical research conducted in Queensland, as a subject to be infected with malaria and exposed to poison gas. On 27 March 1946 he was discharged from the AIF.

During 1948 Rowlinson worked on farms in Queensland then moved to the south coast of New South Wales where he became a driver. On 8 April 1950 he married New South Wales-born Melba May Smith at the Presbyterian church at Pambula. They had one child, also called William. On the outbreak of the Korean War Rowlinson enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 21 August 1950 and was sent to Korea for service with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR). In mid-March 1951 he became part of an initially hasty defence of the Kapyong valley. Promoted to temporary corporal in command of a section of No. 12 Platoon, ‘D’ Company, he was deployed to a key position on Hill 504. On the morning of 24 April the platoon came under unrelenting Chinese attack. He was soon wounded in the left leg but refused to be relieved over six hours of hard fighting. In a letter of recommendation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), awarded in January 1952, the commanding officer of 3RAR wrote that ‘Rowlinson although wounded displayed leadership of a very high order and outstanding courage by holding the section together during the continuous attacks on his section position and thereby securing the company position vital to the successful conduct of the battalion defence’ (AWM PR03039). He was evacuated to Japan, but on 17 June returned to Korea, where he was promoted to temporary sergeant.

In October 1951 3RAR was committed to clearing a series of Chinese mountain outposts, including Maryang San (Hill 317). During the attack, Australian casualties required Rowlinson to take command of No. 12 Platoon. Again wounded in his left leg, he continued to lead his men, and his quick thinking and inspired leadership assisted in capturing the hill. For this action he was awarded a Bar to his DCM in March 1952. Flown back to Australia on 14 January 1952, where waiting reporters were impressed by the slightly built Rowlinson’s personal modesty, he was commissioned as a lieutenant on 5 April 1952, and posted to the 4th Training Battalion. On 3 July Lieutenant Rowlinson was presented with the DCM and Bar at Admiralty House, Sydney.

Eleven days later Rowlinson was the victim of an unfortunate accident when, while demonstrating the use of gelignite during a night battle simulation, his right hand and forearm were blown off. He was nonetheless promoted to temporary captain on 4 June 1955 as commander of 16th Cadet Battalion at Goulburn. By April 1956 he was a provisional captain, and in June of that year attended a quartermasters course, only to earn a course report stating that his physical disability reduced his capacity to manage paperwork and that he had limited aptitude for the role.

Rowlinson failed to pass promotion exams for captain in 1955 and 1956, largely due to his limited education. His annual reports present a portrait of a pleasant man with a good sense of humour who displayed ‘remarkable courage and determination in overcoming his disability’ (ADFR 237661). While his disability did not appear to hinder him as an instructor, subsequent reports noted that he did ‘suffer from periods of despondency due no doubt to his physical handicap’ (ADFR 237661), and that he lacked confidence in his ability to undertake staff work.

On 19 July 1957 Rowlinson resigned his commission, and was subsequently employed by the New South Wales Department of Education, becoming caretaker and house services officer at the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College (later the Riverina College of Advanced Education). He was a popular figure on campus, not least for coaching the soccer team and contributing verse to student magazines. The Australian War Memorial in 1979 commissioned an official portrait by John Bloomfield, and the following year invited him to attend commemorations of the thirtieth anniversary of the commencement of the Korean War. When Rowlinson retired in 1983 the college squash courts were named for him. Survived by his wife and their son, he died on 17 November 1998 of ischaemic heart disease in the RSL War Veteran’s Home, Caboolture, Queensland, and was cremated.