Gresford Colliery Disaster - RWF Perished

We'll go with that Richard.

Many Thanks.

John Rowlands is causing me a headache.

I have no John winning the MM with the RWF. Of the four "Rowlands" the choice is below. Clearly one stands out, Thomas, but he was 31 when discharged in 1918.

25135 Sgt Edward Rowlands 17RWF, born Tredegar.
37042 Pte Edward T. Rowlands 16RWF, Born Conway
7008/200304 Sgt Thomas Rowlands 4RWF
26180 Pte Thomas Rowlands 17RWF, Born Brynguran

The only John Rowlands I can find winning the MM is 14017 Sgt John Rowlands 7SWB - as far as I can see no connections with RWF

Now - I can't find my Waziristan gallantry boys I think from memory there were four MMs and one chap may have been a Rowlands .....

Not a Waziristan MM. Found the list.

Have not applied any great brain power to this list yet - it is just a list of potential matches between enlistments and the Gresford casualty roll

Surname	Christian Name	Vocation	Age	Birth Circa	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible
Hughes	Robert John	Collier	29	1905	4178163	4185015	4190699
Jarvis	Ernest	Cutter-man	41	1893	4178188
Griffiths	Edward Charles	Repairer	25	1909	4178290
Davies	Hugh T.	Borer	26	1908	4178542
Jones	John Richard	Repairer	33	1901	4178662	4182932	4185400	4185775
Davies	John Edward	Collier	32	1902	4178765
Goodwin	John	Packer	51	1883	4178962
Jones	John Robert	Repairer	55	1879	4180809
Edwards	John Edward	Collier	39	1895	4181309	4181320
Edwards	Frank	Pipe-man	23	1911	4181503
Crump	William	Cutter-man	36	1898	4181591
Jones	Albert Edward	Borer	31	1903	4182000	4183192	4184681
Hughes	Harry	Cutter-man	44	1890	4182435	4186236
Edwards	Ernest Thomas	Ripper	53	1881	4182448
Clutton	John Thomas*	Rider Haulage	35	1899	4182548
Davies	Samuel	Filler	35	1899	4182609	4185084
Phillips	John	Filler	40	1894	4182737
Collins	John	Shot Firer	62	1872	4184308
McKean	Joseph (John)	Repairer	30	1904	4184682
Hamlington	Arthur	Repairer	62	1872	4184686
Davies	James	Repairer	37	1897	4185502	4188915	4190963
Davies	Edward	Packer	53	1881	4185625	4186312
Salisbury	William	Fireman	36	1898	4185686	4181575
Johns	Percy	Packer	27	1907	4186083
Clutton	Arthur	Packer	29	1905	4186381
Jones	Idris	Haulage	37	1897	4186594	4178445
Jones	Daniel	Repairer	33	1901	4186606
Baines	David	Haulage	26	1908	4186976
Strange	Albert	Collier	35	1899	4187086
Cartwright	Albert Edward	Packer	24	1910	4188103
Parry	Issac	Repairer	40	1894	4188296
Jones	John Dan (John Samuel)	Repairer	42	1892	4188423
Davies	Peter	Filler	25	1909	4188579
Davies	Peter	Borer	21	1913	4188579
Jones	George Humphrey	Haulage	22	1912	4188812
Hughes	Cecil	Packer	23	1911	4190148
Jones	Cyril	Collier	26	1908	4190259
Buckley	Albert	Haulage	21	1913	4190633
Evans	Joseph	Cutterman	32	1902	4190646	4185029
Edwards	Albert	Repairer	62	1872	4190912
Rowland	John David	Haulage	17	1917	4190946
Parry	John Edward	Haulage	31	1903	4191282

I can't recall where I picked up the "MM" tag.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...-scale-2083944

Mentioned by the surviving son…Albert. No mention in the YDG articles though. which is where I would expect to see it in the death notices.

To start the list Al. Both Hywyn and I think this chap is worth following up in the Enlistment books (We can keep adding to make a list for the others we think a check is worthwhile):

Cartwright

Albert Edward

Packer

24

1910

4188103

Re Ernest Jarvis.
Have just put this on the FB page.
"I can put ErnestJarvis 7382/200512 RWF (served 4th & 19th Bns) to 4 Little Vownog , Bersham in 1919. In 1920 he was aged 27 when he enlisted in 4th Bn TA. Served to 1927Married Fanny Bailey Anders in 1920. All told, same man I'd say"

There is mention on the page that his father Edward was on a local WW1 memorial. EdwardJarvis, Army Service Corps R4/062719 died in France 27 12 1916. His papers show he was from 4 Little Vownog. Same man then.

Albert Edward Cartwright 4188103

Born 12/5/?? I messed the birth year!!...sorry
Enlisted 2/2/1928
Disch 1/2/1932

Address: "Father" Florence St, Rhosddu Wrexham (I think he was a boy when he joined).

Occupation. Haulage - Colliery

Confirmed RWF

4187086 Albert Strange
Born 7/10/1907
Enlisted 19/5/26
Disch 18/5/30
Address: 21 Nelson St, Crispin Lane, Rhosddu Wrexham
Confirmed RWF - No 25


His step-brother 4190467 Frederick Strange a serving member of 4RWF died a few weeks later.

Born 14/11/1911
Enlisted 18/2/1931

Died 14/10/1934 (Still serving) "Dead" written in register...This is the later death a few weeks after the disaster.