Roland Wallis
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Roland Wallis was born in 1891 in Armley, Leeds and was the son of Albert Harry a bricklayer and Sarah Wallis née Hatfield of 11 Alboin Street, Canal Street, Nottingham. His father Albert Harry was born in 1863 in Nottingham and his mother Sarah Ann Hatfield Wallis was also born in 1863 in Nottingham, they were married in 1883 in Nottingham and went on to have 11 children, sadly 4 of whom died in infancy, their surviving children were, Alonza b1883 Nottingham, Albert b1888 Armley, Roland b1891 Armley, Thomas b1899 Morley, Miriam b1908 Nottingham and Newbury b1910 Nottingham Albert and Thomas Wallis. In 1901 census the family lived at 14 George Street Wakefield later moving to 13 Friar Street Old Lenton Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 11 Albion Street, Canal Street, Nottingham and are shown as Albert 47 yrs a bricklayer, he is living with his wife Sarah 47 yrs and their children Thomas 13 yrs a scholar, Miriam 3 yrs and Newbury 1 year. In the same 1911 census, Roland having joined the army is shown as being 20 yrs, single and a soldier in the Sherwood Foresters living in barracks at Crownhill Hutments, Crownhill, Devon.
'D' Coy, 1st Battalion. Roland Wallis attested on 8th July 1909 at Nottingham and enlisted for seven years. He stood 5' 5" and weighed 124 lbs, gave his age as 18 yrs and 7 months and his occupation as a coal miner. His father Albert Harry of 13 Friary Street, Old Lenton, Nottingham, was his next of kin. Roland served in India from 13th December 1911 until 2nd October 1914 when his battalion returned to England. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 4th November 1914 and was serving with “D” Company, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, when he was killed in action on 8th January 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial (Panel 26 and 27)
In memoriam published 7th January 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WALLIS. – Killed in action, January 8th, 1915, Private Roland Wallis, 1st Battalion Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment, son of Harry and Sarah Wallis, of Old Lenton. Missed by those who loved him so, he did his bit and had to go. – From father, mother, brothers, and sister Midge.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. His personal effects were returned to his motherand comprised: Princess Mary's Gift, a Third Class Education Certificate, a swimming certificate, a Christmas card, a postcard, three photos and an identity disc. His brother Alonzo served in the South Lancashire Regiment.
