Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Harrison, a licensed Victualler, born 1st November 1859 in Enderby, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Elizabeth Harrison (nee Herbert, married on the 15th June 1886 in St. John the Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire), born 1863 in Enderby. Roland was born on the 31st March 1893 in Leicester and baptised on the 7th May 1893 in St. Mary de Castro Church, Leicester, his siblings were, William, born 1887 and baptised on the 6th February 1887 in All Saint’s Church, Leicester, Florence, born 1888 and baptised on the 7th October 1888 in All Saint’s Church, Leicester and Dorothy, born 1895 and baptised on the 4th August 1895 in St. Mary de Castro Church, Leicester, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at the Sailors Return, 16, West Bridge Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Roland was employed working on the family farm and was residing at Desford, Leicestershire, together with his father, a farmer, his mother and siblings, William, an assistant elementary school teacher, Dorothy, working in the family farm dairy and Jessie, born 11th May 1909 in Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire and baptised on the 27th June 1909 in the Parish Church, Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, also residing in the family home was Roland’s married sister, Florence Spence, her husband Rowland Henry Spence, a farmer, born 1889 in Enderby and their daughter, Florence Millicent Spence, born 26th January 1911 in Elmesthorpe and baptised on the 28th May 1911 in the Parish Church, Desford, Leicestershire. Roland also had a brother Tom who was born in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in Leicester, and died aged 1 year in the 4th quarter of 1892. The family latterly resided at Poplar House, Enderby.
Roland enlisted into the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the 15th August 1914 in Hamilton, and was allotted the service number 13/352. He gave his date and place of birth as 31st March 1893 in Leicester, England, his trade or calling as farmer presently employed by W. J. Thompson, Opotiki, his marital status as single and his last place of residence as Opotiki.
He confirmed that he was serving with “E” Squadron 4th (Waikato) M.R.
His medical examination took place on the 15th August 1914 and recorded his declared age as 21 years 5 months. He was 5-feet 8½ inches in height, weighed 162 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 37 and 39½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, colour of eyes, brown and the colour of his hair was dark. His Religious profession was Anglican. (Church of England).
He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr. W. Harrison, Manor Farm, Desford, Leicestershire, England.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Embarked. For Dardanelles. 9/8/15.
Promoted. Corporal, Dardanelles. 16/8/15.
Reported missing. Dardanelles. 28/8/15.
Enquiry held at Sarpe Camp, Lemnos. 16/10/15.
“Reasonable to suppose” Dead, Dardanelles. 28/8/15. Finding of Board of Enquiry held at Sarpe Camp, Lemnos. 31/10/15.
Summary of Service.
New Zealand. 15/8/14 – 12/10/14. 59 days.
Transport No.8 at sea (Disembarked Alexandria). 13/10/14 – 3/12/14. 52 days.
Egypt. 4/12/14 -
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 27 Aug-15 – Today we prepare for the attack on HILL 60. KAIAJIK – AGHALA. We send up to 50 men with Captain A. S. WILKINSON to hold trenches, and 65 men under Major C. R. E. MACKESY, as our portion of the Mounted Brigades quota for the attack. At 17.00, after an hour’s bombardment by artillery, the attack was launched, which was fairly successful. During the attack our regiment a Turkish Machine Gun and ammunition, which we used with great success when the enemy counter-attacked in the evening. At night the Turkish counter-attack several times, using a great quantity of bombs. We repulsed these attacks easily; good work being done by our Machine Guns. The following were casualties: -
KILLED (1 + 9)
Lieutenant LITTLE W. J. 13/431 Sergeant ROLLETT C. R. 13/1069a Trooper TEBBUTT A. R. 13/801 Trooper LAMB E. 13/437 Corporal ROSE J. W. 13/694 Trooper HUNTER R. 13/981 Trooper KING J. 13/780 Trooper BOYD A. W. 13/754 Trooper WRIGHT A. 13/922 Trooper JOLLY J. W.
MISSING (20)
13/79 Trooper JONES R. R. 13/630 Trooper DOWNS A. O. 13/937 Trooper PATTERSON A. 13/907 Trooper GODFREY S. A. 13/909 Trooper HARMAN W. J. R. 13/913 Trooper FAULKNER. 13/892 Trooper CLARKE F. 13/886 Trooper BLACK L. 13/805 Trooper GLEESON R. L. 13/691 Trooper HEWITT E. 13/288 Trooper MILLING C. C. 13/352 Trooper HARRISON R. 13/335 Trooper FOTHERINGHAM J. 13/341 Trooper GIBSON A. B. 13/1072 Trooper WHEATLEY S. 13/897 Trooper DAWES C. L. 13/911 Trooper HARNEY J. A. 13/914 Trooper HICKMAN. 13/720 Sergeant OTTER G. W. W.
WOUNDED (5+53)
Major KING G. A. Major MACKESY C. R. E. Captain WILKINSON A. E. Lieutenant MOORE D. G. Lieutenant PALMER W. J. 13/1039a Trooper McGEE J. A. 13/17 Trooper BRIMSLEY G. F. 13/300 Trooper BRIGMAN P. C. 13/973 Trooper COATES G. P. 13/524 Trooper DAWSON J. W. 13/57 Trooper GREY A. E. 13/365 Trooper HERCUS A. F. 13/358 Trooper HERBERT H. S. 13/925 Trooper LLEWELL A. S. 13/1025a Trooper LYES H. S. 13/104 Trooper LENNARD G. B. 13/396 Lance Corporal MORRISON M. 13/939 Trooper PEARSON H. 13/121 Trooper PAGE R. H. 13/1079 Trooper OAKDEN P. V. 13/420 Trooper PICOT E. H. 13/946 Trooper RISK T. T. 13/887 Trooper BLACKBURN S. 13/878 Trooper BLACKIE A. S. 13/776 Trooper FARRELY L. B. 13/968 Trooper WARREN A. 13/960 Trooper THOMAS. 13/882 Trooper ACKLOM H. R. N. 13/184 Trooper FINLAYSON M. 13/131 Trooper STICHBURY T. 13/964 Trooper VANSTONE A. 13/956 Trooper STICHBURY C. G. 13/235 Trooper ST. CLAIR J. P. 13/955 Trooper SIGVERTSON C. 13/936 Trooper O’SULLIVAN J. W. 13/975 Trooper WHITE A. 13/868 Trooper WALKER B. H. 13/688 Trooper GLASS E. 13/504 Trooper NEILSON P. 13/918 Trooper HUNTER B. 13/87 Trooper LEWIS A. W. 13/455 Sergeant SEAWARD C. 13/153 Trooper WILSON J. 13/983 Trooper MOONEY J. K. 13/937 Trooper PARTRIDGE A. E. 13/1022a Trooper LE NOCH. 13/22 Trooper BAYCLIFFE R. F. 13/347 Trooper GOODWIN. 13/931 Trooper McNAMARA. 13/954 Trooper SIMPKINS. 13/221 Trooper MUDROCK W. H. 13/839 Trooper PEARCE A. 13/986 Trooper APPLETON S. 13/363 Trooper HALL E. S. 13/945 Trooper RICHARDS N. 13/596 Trooper CORMEN A. E. 13/1056 Trooper SCOTT J. 13/869 Trooper MARTIN W.