Leonard Rowlinson
Educated Mundella School, Meadows, Nottingham.
1939 - insurance clerk (fire/accident)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Leonard was the son of Frank and Gwendoline Rosa Lily Rowlinson (née Legg) and the husband of Millicent Lydia Rowlinson (née Hannaford).
His parents Frank and Gwendoline were married in 1907 (reg. Nottingham) and Leonard, their only child, was born in 1915.
Frank was born in Haverhill, Suffolk (b. 1878), but was living in Nottingham by 1901 and working as a tailor/cutter. Gwendoline (b. 1879 Nottingham) was the daughter of Herbert and Rose Legg (née Fowler, m. Ilminster Somerset 1876) who moved to Nottingham after their marriage. Herbert was a cutter and his wife a draper and milliner.
Frank and Gwendoline were living with her parents, Herbert and Rose, at 179 St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, in 1911. Frank was a tailor and Gwendoline a draper's assistant, presumably assisting her mother in her business as was her younger sister, Flossie, a milliner.
Frank and Gwendoline, together with their son, were still living at 179-181 St Ann's Well Road with Gwendoline's parents in 1921, altough Frank, a merchant/tailor (employer), now had business premises at 143 St Ann's Well Road. His father-in-law was employed as a hosiery underwear cutter (Morleys) but his mother-in-law was still working as a draper and milliner on her own account ('at home'). Rose Legg died in 1931 and Herbert in 1943. The probate record gave his address as 39 Blyth Street, Mapperley; his son-in-law, Frank, was one of the two executors of his will.
Frank, a ladies and gents tailor/merchant, Gwendoline and Leonard, an insurance clerk (fire/accident), were living at 39 Whittingham Road, Arnold, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled.
Leonard married Millicent Lydia Rowlinson in 1942 (JFM Nottingham). The probate record gave their address as 41 Waldeck Road, Carrington, Nottingham; this was the home of his widow's parents. Millicent married Harry Molesworth in 1952 (reg. Totnes Devon).
Frank Rowlinson died in 1949, burial 8 December, General Cemetery, and his widow in 1952, burial 10 March, General Cemetery; she was still living in the family home on Whittingham Road.
Leonard Rowlinson served with 24 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Lost In Aircraft : Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V : Serial Number : BD 358. The aircraft took off from Honeybourne Aerodrome, Worcestershire, on a Navigational Training Exercise. It stalled and crashed before bursting into flames while returning to base.
WW2 Allied Airman 1939-1945: description of accident: 'Stalled and crashed on the approach to Honeybourne when control was lost as the flaps were lowered at the end of a Navex.'
Whitley BD35: Flight Sergeant W T Rushton, Sergeant E M Taylor, Pilot Officer, Observer, L Rowlinson, Sergeant G E Hibben, Sergeant A F Alcock (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman H G Foot, Aircraftman J Murray: killed; Sergeant V G Harris: injured; 8.
24 Operational Training Unit, aircraft accident at Honeybourne Aerodrome, Worcestershire.
Leonard was buried on 23 June in Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref. 2664) after a service at St Jude's church, Mapperley. His grave does not have a CWGC headstone as he is commemorated on an open marble book at the foot of a private memorial.
Commemorated on the International Bomber Command Centre Memorial as 'Rowlinson L'
Nottingham General Cemetery: family grave and headstone commemorating Henry Lockett Henson (d. 4 November 1890) and his widow Elizabeth (d. 17 June 1908) who was the wife of John West Kemp. Also their son Alfred (d. January 1929), husband of Gwendoline Henson.
Henry Lockett Henson married Elizabeth Brewin at Nottingham All Saints on 13 February 1877 and their son Alfred Henry was born later that year. The family was living at 9 Forest Grove in 1881 but in 1891, after Herbert's death, his widow, a dress and mantle maker, was living with their four children, Alfred, Edith, Annie and Gertrude, on Portland Road. Elizabeth Henson married John West Kemp in 1895 and their daughter Maud was born the following year; Elizabeth died in 1908. Alfred married Gertrude Slaney in 1898 (reg. Nottm) and died in 1929.
Private memorial: ‘In loving memory of a devoted husband and father Frank Rowlinson died Dec. 4th 1949 aged 71 years. At rest. Also Gwendoline, wife of the above died March 4th 1952, aged 72 years. In loving memory of our dear son Pilot Officer Len Rowlinson (Observer RAFVR) beloved husband of Lydia, who made the supreme sacrifice June 17, 1942, aged 26 years.’
CWGC Additional information: Husband of M. L. Rowlinson, of Brixham, Devon.
Probate: Rowlinson Leonard of 41 Waldeck-road Carrington Nottingham died 17 June 1942 on war service Administration Nottingham 24 November to Millicent Lydia Rowlinson widow. Effects £253 10s. 8d.
Nottingham Evening Post, 20 June 1942:
‘Rowlinson. Leonard. Pilot Officer RAFVR, dearly beloved husband of Lydia, 41 Waldeck-road. Service St Jude’s 11.30am Tuesday June 23rd; General 12 noon.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
‘Rowlinson. Leonard, Pilot Officer, RAFVR, beloved son-in-law of Mr and Mrs J Hannaford, 41 Waldeck-road, Nottingham.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
‘Rowlinson. Leonard, Pilot Officer, RAFVR, onl son of Mr and Mrs F Rowlinson, 39 Whittingham-road.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate: Rowlinson Frank of 39 Whittingham-road Carlton Nottingham died 4 December 1949 (General Hospital) Probate to Gwendoline Rosa Lily Rowlinson widow.
Probate: Rowlinson Gwendoline Rosa Lily of 39 Whittingham-road Carlton Nottinghamshire widow died 4 March 1952 at The General Hospital Nottingham Probate to to Fred Raper fitter. Note: Fred Raper, sister Flossie's husband (Flossie/Florence b. 1889 m. 1915).
Additional research/record updated (RF Nov. 2025)
Photo of Leonard Rowlinson
Nottingham General Cemetery. Private memorial Pilot Officer/Observer Rowlinson. Photograph Gary Crosby (19 Aug. 2025)
Photo of Leonard Rowlinson
Nottingham General Cemetery. Family grave with private memorial to Pilot Officer/Observer Rowlinson. Photograph Gary Crosby (19 Aug. 2025)
Photo of Leonard Rowlinson
Pilot Officer/Observer Leonard Rowlinson. Photograph provided by Gary Crosby.
Photo of Leonard Rowlinson
Pilots and Observers Course. Group includes Pilot Officer Observer Rowlinson. Photograph provided by Gary Crosby.