James Anthony Rowland (1922 - 1999)

Born 1 Nov 1922 in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Faye Alison (Campbell) Rowland — married 1955 in Victoria, Australia

Died 27 May 1999 at age 76 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Preceded by Sir Roden Cutler VC, KCMG, KCVO, CBE

33rd Governor of New South Wales 20 Jan 1981 to 19 Jan 1989

Succeeded by Rear Admiral Sir David Martin KCMG AO RAN

Jim Rowland is Notable.

Air Marshal Sir James (Jim) Rowland AC KBE DFC AFC Hon. DEng KStJ was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force, serving as Chief of the Air Staff from 1975 to 1979. He later held office as Governor of New South Wales from 1981 to 1989, and was Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1990 to 1991.

Jim Rowland was born in New South Wales, Australia

This profile is part of the Rowland Name Study.

James 'Jim' Anthony Rowland was born on 1st November 1922 on Morundah, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. He was the third son of New South Wales-born Louis Rowland, a retired Royal Navy Commander and now pastoralist, and Queensland-born Elsie Wright. ^[1] Growing up with his three younger brothers on the family's 1,200 ha (3,000-acre) rural property, he was schooled via correspondence before completing his secondary education at Cranbrook School, Sydney.

Jim Rowland is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1942-1979
as a bomber pilot, retiring as Chief of the Air Staff

AMSHL Sir Jim Rowland was a prisoner of war in Germany during the Second World War.

Jim cut short his aeronautical engineering studies at the University of Sydney to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1942. He was posted to Britain and served as a bomber pilot with the No.635 Squadron, Pathfinders, in the air war over Europe, as a Flight Lieutenant being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in February 1945 for an event in December 1944. ^[2] In Jnauary 1945 he was forced to bail out over Germany following a collision with another Allied aircraft and, after being rescued by to Luftwaffe officers from execution by the Gestapo, spent the remaining months of the war in Europe as a prisoner-of-war. Being the sole survivor of his air crew, Jim suffered 'survivior guilt' thereafter. For his war service Jim was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

After repatriation and demobilisation, Jim returned to university and gained his engineering degree, before re-joining the RAAF. He became a test pilot, serving with, and later commanding, the Aircraft Research and Development Unit in the 1950s, and also a senior engineering officer, being closely involved in preparations for delivery to Australia of the Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighter in the 1960s. He was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) in the New Year Honours 1955 as a Squadron Leader. ^[3] In 1972 he was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and became Air Member for Technical Services, holding this post until his elevation to Air Marshal and appointment as CAS in March 1975. Jim was the first engineering officer to lead the RAAF, and the first man to personally command it in a legal sense, following abolition of the Australian Air Board in 1976.

Jim married Faye Doughton nee Campbell in 1955 in Victoria. ^[4]

Created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1977, ^[5] and awarded the National Medal with First Clasp the following month, ^[6][7] Jim retired from the RAAF in 1979 and was appointed Governor of New South Wales in January 1981. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Engineering by the University of Sydney in 1983, and also appointed a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ). He was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours 1987. ^[8] Following his term as governor, in 1989, he held a place on several boards as well as the Chancellorship of the University of Sydney.

Aged 76 years, Jim passed away in Sydney on 27th May 1999. He was survived by Lady Rowland, who passed in 2011, their daughter Anni, and grandchildren Samantha and Lachlan.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #48496/1922
2. ↑ Australian Honours: DFC; accessed 3 Nov 2023
3. ↑ Australian Honours: AFC; accessed 3 Nov 2023
4. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #7662/1955
5. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 3 Nov 2023
6. ↑ Australian Honours: National Medal; accessed 3 Nov 2023
7. ↑ Australian Honours: National Medal 1st Clasp; accessed 3 Nov 2023
8. ↑ Australian Honours: AC; accessed 3 Nov 2023

See also:

• Wikipedia profile
• Register of War Memorials in NSW: Eulogy for Sir James Rowland