RETIRED ARMY OFFICER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 722, 2 June 1923, Page 10

RETIRED ARMY OFFICER.

VICTIM OK UNEMPLOYMENT

C.B.K. FOR VALUABLE SERVICES

LONDON, March 27,

“f owe a lot of money, but some of the debts will be paid by the insurance. 1 incurred those debts before the India Office cast their bombshell at me. I have tried all I can without success. I am to-day pawning the engagement ring which I gave my wife twenty years ago so that she shall have a little money in hand. God bless the King and God bless the British Empire. I have one last request. May I please Ire covered with the Union Jack, and may hi.s Majesty consent to my C.B.E. being left with my family us a token that I was at one time a useful servant of his." This was the conclusion of a letter read at an inquest yesterday on Major Herbert Wyniard Rowlandson (40). a retired Army officer, who was found in a dying condition in Battersea Park on March 19. A verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind was recorded. The evidence showed that be bad had a most adventurous career in the secret service. ML cousin. Dr, Alexander M. Boss, ol Munster road, Fulham, said Major Rowlandson had served in a Punjab regiment of the Indian Army for many years, but during the war bis principal service was in Russia. “He did very good service, said ur. Ross, “and was employed in the secret service because be was a very good linguist. He bad some nerve-racking adventures when disguised as a Russian officer. He frequently imperilled his life among the Bolshevists and sometimes had to hide lor days together in a collar. . He got the C.B.E. for his services and came home in 1920. 1 “I believe he had a scheme whereby be was going to connect up the Channel Islands' 5 with London by an aeroplane company. to supply London with vegetables and tho Channel Islands with newspapers. “The worst of it was he thought he was jockeyed out of his money, it his last letter to me ho said he was not able to sleep and that he was quite man from worry. Ho was considerably in debt ana had no means at all. . ~ Mr Morris Jackson, civil servant, said Rowlandson’s pension was £360 per annum, and after retiring be commuted one-tlnra for a capital sum of £1521 2s sd. He applied subsequently for permission to commute a further portion, but was refused. Dr. 11. B. Weir said death was due to syncope caused by prussic acid.