Harold ROWLEY

19 October 1917

ROWLEY – October 6th 1917, from wounds received in action on the Western Front, Pte. Harold Rowley, Northumberland Fusiliers, secretary of the Skipton Co-operative Society, aged 24 years.

19 October 1917

SKIPTON CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY’S SECRETARY DIES FROM WOUNDS

Co-operators in Skipton have learnt with regret this week of the death of Private Harold Rowley, the Secretary of the Skipton and District Co-operative Society. On Friday Mrs. Illingworth, 11, Neville Street, Skipton, with whom deceased lodged whilst living here, received a letter from the bereaved parents to the effect that their son had died on October 6th from wounds received in action.

Twenty-four years of age, Pte. Rowley was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Rowley, The Square, Snedshill, near Wellington, Salop, and prior to coming to Skipton was a clerk in the offices of the Opengated Co-operative Society. It is about three years ago since he was appointed assistant secretary to the Skipton Society, and subsequently, on Mr. Lund’s retirement, he was promoted to the position of secretary. A young man of great promise, it was thought that he would, under normal circumstances, have risen high in his profession. He joined the Yorkshire Hussars a year last August, was afterwards transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers, and had been in France about nine months. At the Front he had been engaged on the important work of signalling.

In his native place he had gained more than a local reputation as an athlete, particularly as a runner, and had won many prizes. He was also an active worker in connection with Snedshill Church.