Rowland enlisted on 21st November 1908. He was 18 years and 6 months old, and was a Gas Fitter by trade. He entered the war in France on 16th August 1914 with the 4th Field Ambulance. His name appears on a list of R.A.M.C. personnel who were taken captive up to & including 31st December 1914. His address was given as 39 Abbey Wood Road, Abbeywood, Kent - (kindly provided by Steve Mattocks). In the early hours of 26th August, the 4th Field Ambulance were ordered to go to Landrecies to treat and evacuate the wounded. A couple of hours after entering the town the Germans arrived, and Rowland became one of 219 of the rank and file of the R.A.M.C. to be held captive there. He was taken to Germany entering Sennelager POW camp on 4th September 1914. He returned to the UK on 1st July 1915. On 21st July 1915 he was posted to serve with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force but he returned to the UK again shortly after on 20th September 1915. On 18th October 1915 he was discharged from the Colours "No longer physically fit for war service" due to sickness.