Ernest Rowles was born in East Melbourne in 1894. He was the third son of Joseph and Catherine Ellen Rowles. In the 1909 electoral rolls Joseph was described as a foreman, by 1914 he was a tram employee and at the time of his death in 1922 he was superintendent assistant of the Tramway Board. Ernest, according to his enlistment papers, was a cabinet maker. He had served three years' apprenticeship with Than's of Flinders Lane, Melbourne. By the time of his enlistment in 1915 the family were living at 8 Strode Street, Richmond. Ernest was 5ft 4ins, had a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. His story demonstrates that his, perhaps, colourless appearance was no indication of his visibility on the field.
He enlisted on 15 July 1915 and was assigned to the 58th Company Depot at Seymour as a private but embarked with the 29th Infantry Battalion on 10 November 1915 on the Ascanius. He disembarked at Suez on 7 December. On 15 March 1916 he was transferred to 5th Division Artilllery at Tel-el-Kebir and taken on strength of 13th Field Artillery Brigade and posted to the 49th Battery. He was now a gunner. He embarked at Alexandria on 16 June bound for Marseilles. He was wounded with a gunshot wound to his right leg on 16 November 1916 and admitted to hospital and evacuated to England. He was discharged two months later.
After time at Perham and then Parkhill he returned to France in late March 1917 where he rejoined his unit. He was again wounded in action on 30 September 1917, this time with a gunshot wound to his left hand (forefinger). Again he was admitted to hospital in England. After convalescence he returned to France on 6 February 1918. He was promoted to bombardier on 20 April 1918. He was wounded a third time on 13 May 1918. This was a shell wound to his right arm and apparently not too serious as he was back with his unit on 31 May. He was promoted temporary corporal. He was killed in action on 9 August 1918 and is buried at Heath Cemetery near Harbonnieres.