Roy Rowe was born in 1895 at Newstead, Victoria. Rowe enlisted as a Sergeant with the Australian Imperial Force on 10 September 1914. He had previous experience in the Cadets and the Citizen's Military Forces. Rowe embarked on 14 December 1914, aboard HMAT Kyarra with the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital. After arriving in Egypt, he was transferred to the 15th Stationary Hospital and after several months of training arrived in Lemnos harbour. He landed at Gallipoli a few days later.

Although disappointed not to be involved in the early stages of the Gallipoli campaign, Rowe began to see the devastation first hand, working with other members of the Medical Corps aboard a number of hospital ships. In late 1915 Rowe was taken to Mudros suffering from jaundice. He re-joined his unit, the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, in Egypt in early 1916 serving in the Port Said area. In January 1917 he was promoted to warrant officer. He returned to Australia during November 1918. In 1919, Roy Rowe was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his devotion to duty. After the war, he returned to Perth and completed his apprenticeship in cabinet making.