Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Geary, a blacksmith, born 1854 in Narborough, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Geary (nee Shaw, married on the 25th December 1877 in Hugglescote Parish Church), born 1857 in Hugglescote, Leicestershire. Roland Alec was born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in Narborough and was baptised on the 19th April 1896 in Narborough Parish Church, his siblings were, Oliver Henry, a postman, born 6th August 1879, Sydney, a blacksmith, born 20th July 1880 and baptised on the 5th September 1880 in Narborough Parish Church, Horace, born 10th July 1888 and baptised on the 19th August 1888 in Narborough Parish Church, Harry Gordon, born 1891 and baptised on the 15th February 1891 in Narborough Parish Church, Jessica, born 14th June 1894 and baptised on the 30th September 1894 in Narborough Parish Church and Alfred, born 1897 and baptised on the 15th November 1897 in Narborough Parish Church, all his siblings were born in Narborough, in March 1901 the family home was in Main Street, Narborough. In April 1911 Roland was employed as a joiner and was residing in the family home at Main Road, Narborough, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Oliver, an estate labourer, Horace, a blacksmith, Harry a blacksmith making agricultural implements and Jessica, a dressmaker. Roland is shown on the Narborough War Memorial as Ronald Alec.
Roland attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 18th November 1915 in Leicester. He gave his address as Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 123 days and his trade or calling as carpenter and joiner. He confirmed that he was unmarried and gave his religion as Church of England. He gave his mother, Mary Ann Geary of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination on the 15th November 1915 in Leicester recorded that he was born in Narborough, Leicestershire, his declared age was 19 years and 123 days, his trade or occupation was carpenter and joiner and that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 123 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 34 inches. On being mobilised from the reserve his weight was revised to 130 pounds and his chest measurements to 31 to 33 inches. His physical development was recorded as fair. It was noted that he had varicocele and also skin disease. After attestation on the 15/11/15 in Leicester he was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 16/11/15. Mobilized on the 29/3/16. Posted to the 12th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Depot as Private, service number 12/26775 on the 29/3/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 30/8/16. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the ?/?/? Embarked from Devonport to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 11/10/16. Disembarked in Basra on the 13/11/16. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 7/12/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 9/3/17. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Roland’s mother Mary Ann Geary on the 25th August 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Warwick Whiteley, Clerk in Holy Orders, Narborough, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Mary Ann Geary of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, Oliver H. Geary, age 40 of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Sidney Geary, age 39 of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Horace Geary, age 30 of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Harry Gordon Geary, age 28 of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Jessica Geary, age 25 of Main Street, Narborough, Leicestershire. Roland’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 9 Mar-17 - Continued marching till daylight (about 6.00am) when the Brigade halted 1000 yards from SHAWA RUINS and came in touch with the Cavalry. The Brigade took up Headquarters in the ruins and about 7.00am the enemy commenced to shell the ruins and the Cavalry Division who were concentrating in the vicinity. The Battalion was ordered to send forward one Company with a Company in support to locate the enemy position, his flanks and if possible his approximate strength. “C” Company went forward with “D” Company in support. “A” and “B” Companies remaining in reserve in artillery formation. During the day enemy shelled occasionally, but our guns when they got into action kept the enemy artillery well in hand. Enemy rifle and machine gun fire was heavy. During the day we pushed slowly forward “A” and “B” Companies later taking part. We had no connection on our right or left flanks. The 51st SIKHS and 56th RIFLES had come round some way on the left to turn the enemy right flank, but we did not get in touch with them during the day. In the afternoon the 53rd SIKHS came up to support our right, and at night continued our right towards the 35th Brigade, with whom they made connection. At dusk we straightened our forward line and consolidated the connection on left. On right 53rd SIKHS in touch with 35th Brigade. The whole Battalion was on the front line from left “A”, “C”, “D” and “B” Companies. In support 1 Company of 125th PUNJABIS. One section from a Machine Gun Company was sent up about midnight. Turkish sniping continued until about 2.00am. Casualties during the day 2nd Lieutenant’s HILTON and PALFREYMAN wounded, NCO’s and men 14 killed, 86 wounded. Very hot during the day.
The 11th April 1917 edition of the Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading, “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS.” KILLED – LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Barrett, 23863 C. (Quorn), Barrows, 20937 C. (Leicester), Coleman, 20665 H. (Oadby), Daniel, 10495 G. (Hinckley), Foulds, 22689 T. A. (Woodhouse), Geary, 26775 R. (Narborough).