He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Rowlands of Mold. In 1901 the census tells us that Joseph, the father was a 56 year old bricklayer. The only child at home was 15 year old Robert. We have not traced Joseph the younger.  By 1911 we have found him married aged 29 and living in Milford Street, Mold with his wife Emma and son of 6 – another Joseph  and a daughter of 3, Edith. We can see from the news cutting below that before the war he was employed at the local auction mart.

County Herald 18th June 1915