Outdoor portrait of an Armoured Brigade recruitment group. Identified, fifth from left, front row ...

Outdoor portrait of an Armoured Brigade recruitment group. Identified, fifth from left, front row is: NX37487 Private William Josiah (Bill) Rowlinson who was born at Balgowlah, NSW, in 1919. After pre-war cadet service with the 17th Battalion, Citizens Military Forces, he enlisted on 27 June 1941, serving as NX37487 with the 2/7th Armoured Regiment. He later transferred to the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion. After a period with the 113rd Australian General Hospital as a volunteer in tropical disease research, he was awarded the Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation Card, but took his discharge in 1946. In 1950 he re-enlisted for service in Korea, receiving service number 2/400239 with 3RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) . Twice wounded in Korea during 1951, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Bar for his gallant conduct in the battles of Kapyong and Maryang-San. In early 1952 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the regular army, but later in the year, while giving instruction in the use of explosives at Ingleburn, he was seriously injured in a gelignite explosion, his right hand and forearm being amputated as a result. He recovered from his injuries, remaining in the Army until 1957 and reaching the rank of Captain. Bill Rowlinson died in the late 1990s.