Birmingham Weekly Post October 27 1915
During the night of September 26/27 Second Lieutenant James Stuart Thain, the Bombing Officer, and two of his men (inc. Rowley), penetrated the German wire but came under fire. Thain covered his men’s retreat with his grenades, including throwing from a standing position. For this and earlier good work Thain received an ‘immediate’ award of the MC – the first award of any kind in 37th Division. Unfortunately one of his men, Serjeant Richard Rowley, was killed four weeks later and died of wounds after being shot in the chest whilst practising bomb throwing. He left a widow and children at 60, Maas Road, Northfield, Birmingham, where he had been a fireman at the local Fire Sub-Station before joining the army.
Also born Wolvey, Warks. Enlisted Bham. Lived Northfield.
The battalion had been around Hebuterne on the Somme from August 1915. He is buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery which was a village behind the front line.