Service: Army – 37/52 Australian Infantry Battalion
Service number: VX157
Locality on Enlistment: Cororooke
Duration of Service: 2 Nov 1939 – 10 Mar 1945
Prisoner of War: No
Honours: Military Cross
Date and Place of Birth: 26 Oct 1905 Princetown
Parents: Thomas ROWAN and Mary Meldrum CAIRNS
Spouse: Bertha Pauline NEAVE
School/s: Cororooke State School
Occupation: Farmer
Date and Place of Death: 21 May 1981 Gymea, NSW
Place of Burial: Woronora Cemetery, NSW
NOTES: John Rowan served in the Militia between Jul 1924 and Nov 1939. With the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the AIF and sailed to the Middle East with the 2/6th AIF and was engaged in the Battle of Bardia in the first Libyan campaign. He was awarded a Military Cross on the 7 Mar 1941 for bravery during this battle. He was promoted to the rank of Major and in early Apr 1941, Major Rowan served in Greece and Crete with the 2/6 Infantry Battalion. He returned to Australia in 1942, and in Feb 1943 served in New Guinea with 37/52 Battalion. Upon his discharge in 1944 Rowan had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. John died in 1981 in NSW, and it was after his death that his daughter received the Greek Medal on his behalf.