More and more people are adding to the work of Ken Wynn and his original helpers. An example is the entry, recently considerably expanded, for John Hampton Rowden. As a Pilot Officer he flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain with Nos 64 and 616 Squadrons. Edward McManus, of the Battle of Britain London Monument, made contact with John Rowden’s family. Members of the Henley Archaeological & Historical Group, notably David Boulton, offered their expertise in the part of modern Oxfordshire associated with Rowden’s youth. Gaps always remain and the work is never ending in the most pleasant way.
John Rowden and his siblings were born on the Golder Manor Farm estate at the village of Pyrton near Watlington. This appears to have been the location of the family home of Rowden’s mother, who was Miss Hampton before her marriage.
Nearby, near Benson, was the farm run by John’s father. In those times it was just in Berkshire. Today helicopters from RAF Benson can be heard on police and air ambulance, as well as military, duties and the M40 is not far away, but the area retains the charm sometimes expressed as: “This is what we were fighting for”. In 2022 the Golder Manor Farm estate was being offered for sale for £25m.
There was much tragedy in John Rowden’s childhood, with the deaths of both his parents, and wartime added to the toll. John himself was killed during a sweep on 9 April 1941.
One of his brothers, Sergeant George Douglas Rowden, was also lost in action with the RAF. On 21 October 1944 he was a member of the crew of a Wellington of No 104 Squadron, flying from Foggia in Italy to attack the marshalling yards at Maribor, Yugoslavia, now in Slovenia. The aircraft did not return. Killed with Sergeant Rowden were Sergeants Spencer, Bell, Asquith and Stephenson.
Edward McManus has obtained the wording of the letter written, on the day after John Rowden died, to his widow by Squadron Leader Barrie Heath, Battle of Britain veteran and CO of 64 Squadron.
In part it reads:
“No doubt by this time you will have heard of the bad news about John. The whole Squadron join me in expressing our real sympathy with you and telling you of our confidence that he will be heard of soon as a prisoner of war.
“I have not known him long, only three weeks, but already look upon him as a good friend and a really sound and reliable Officer. He was recommended to be a Flight Lieutenant only two weeks ago.
“The circumstances were as follows: We took off together from here in the morning and set course for France to see if we could find some German aircraft among the clouds. When near Dunkirk over the sea we sighted some Messerschmitt 109s, John and I attacked and got separated. I called him up
on the radio and he replied that he was O.K., flying in cloud and had shot one German down (this has been credited to John). I then replied that this was good fun and he replied ‘Yes, wizard’.
“He then reported himself to be three miles inland. I ordered him to fly out over the sea again in cloud. He acknowledged this order. Some ten minutes later I could get no reply from him…….”
There is also a letter to Mrs Rowden from the squadron adjutant, referring to the disposal of John’s Singer car. Perhaps they were acquainted. In those far more formal times the letter starts, “Dear Catherine”.
The J H Rowden database entry is now much longer than it was, but we hope that even more information will be added in due course.
Geoff Simpson FRHistS
On the extreme right is Hauptmann Josef Fözö, the pilot believed to have shot down Rowden.
