Bert's Story.
Corporal Bert Rowlands was killed in action on 8th February 1902. He was 21 years old.Bert is remembered on the Wallasey Boer War Memorial, in Central Park, Liskard Road, Wallasey. The newspaper article from 1904 mentions him by name as one of the casualties, shot whilst attempting to save a gun at Rhenosterfontein, South Africa.
What do we know about Bert?
He was born Bertie Hughes, in the summer of 1880, the son of unmarried Ruth Hughes (18) who lived at 31 Fell Street, Poulton cum Seacombe, Cheshire, with her parents Thomas and Elizabeth Hughes, and their lodger John Hassan Rowlands (40). Bertie grew up with his grandparents, and is shown on the 1881 census as their own child, and in the 1891 census as Bertie Rowlands, their grandson.
John Hassan Rowlands was from Wales. He died in South Africa on 13th December 1882, and although there seems to be no record of his marriage to Ruth, she took his surname and Bertie Hughes became Bert Rowlands. Her marriage to Bevis Roberts in 1885 shows her name as Ruth Rowlands, widow.
On 7th February 1901, Bert enlisted at Ruabon, Denbighshire, Wales, into the 29th Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, later serving with the 89th. According to his attestation documents, he had brown eyes and black hair, with a dark complexion.
Researched by S. Lewington (May 2025)