In memory of Ronald Huw Rowland

Iphoto of Ronald Huw Rowlandn memory of Ronald Huw Rowland

Ronald was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Huw Rowland. His father was town clerk of Bangor. He was educated at Friars School, Bangor, gaining the higher certificate of the Central Welsh Board.

Ronald joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps and was attached to the 2nd/15th Battalion London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles). He died of wounds he sustained while fighting in the hills near Jerusalem. He was buried there on 20 February 1918, aged 19 years.

Three days before his death, he sent home the following poetry which he had written.

List to my tale, oh, beloved!
     The woes that now I recite,
Tis a tale of a lonely shepherd
     Watching his sheep through the night.

In a barren cave on the hillside,
     Where the wind cuts keen as a sword,
Chanting his prayers to Allah
     That day might again be restored.

Listen! ’Tis I am the shepherd,
     And my soul is a gloomy cave;
For the night of despair is about it,
     Heed thou the boon I crave.

Thou art my light in the darkness
     Be thou the dawn in my sky,
That is the prayer of the shepherd
     Heed it, my love, or I die.

 

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