Personal info
- Name: John Samuel ROWLANDS
- D.O.B: 23rd Sep, 1915
- D.O.A: 1st Jun, 1943
- D.O.D: 4th Jun, 2006
- Award: George Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Acting Wing Commander, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bomb Disposal Duties; United Kingdom 1941-1943
1941-1943
Wing Commander J S Rowlands’ Citation emphasises that he distinguished himself in bomb disposal for over two years but the eight specific actions which are referred to in his Recommendation, ranging from Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides to Cowes in the Isle of Wight, are dated in 1942 and 1943. Rowlands was noted for dealing with bombs with type 17 delayed-action fuses. In June 1943 he and his team dealt with the aftermath of an explosion in a bomb dump at RAF Snaith, west of Goole in Yorkshire which had scattered explosives over a wide area.
Citation
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the GEORGE CROSS to :– Acting Wing Commander John Samuel Rowlands, M.B.E. (73378), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. For over 2 years, Wing Commander Rowlands has been employed on bomb disposal duties and has repeatedly displayed the most conspicuous courage and unselfish devotion to duty in circumstances of great personal danger.