SIMPSON Roland Henry

Roland Henry Simpson was the third child of John Simpson and Hannah Durrant. He was a man of 21 years and 9 months when he enlisted for the Great War on 09 September 1915 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His occupation was a labourer at the time. He was described as 5 feet 8 inches (173cm) tall. He weighed 138 pounds (62.6kg) and had a dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. Roland had a distinctive scar on his left calf and a mole on his neck. He noted his religion as Church of England. He was a single man and listed his father who was living at Kin Kin, Queensland at the time, as his next of kin.

On 28 March 1916, Private Roland H. Simpson of 9 Battalion boarded the HMAT “Commonwealth” at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to serve his King and country. Roland was admitted to 2 A.S.H. (Aust. Stationary Hospital) at Tel-el-Kebir on 19 May 1916 with influenza. He was transferred to 3 A.G.H. (Aust. General Hospital) at Alexandria on 24 May. No discharge date was entered into his records. In August 1916, Roland proceeded overseas to France from 3 T. B. (Training Battalion), where he joined his battalion. Early October, Roland was admitted to 3 C.G.H. (Canadian General Hospital) at Boulogne with influenza and was transferred to 7 Con. Dep. (Convalescent Depot), before being discharged to duty on 10 October. Roland headed out to 1 A.D.B.D. (Aust. Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples and rejoined his unit on 09 November 1916.

Roland was wounded in action on 07 May 1917, when he suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg. From 5 A.F.A. (Aust. Field Ambulance), he was transferred to 3 C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) and on to A.T. (Ambulance Train) 4 to 9 G.H. at Rouen. On 23 May, Roland was discharged to duty, and made his way to 1 A.D.B.D. before heading out to his unit. He rejoined his battalion on 10 June 1917.

9 Battalion was in Belgium when Roland was wounded in action the second time. On 01 November 1917, Roland suffered a severe gunshot wound to his right thigh. He was admitted to 3 A.F.A. and transferred to 17 C.C.S. and on to 54 G.H. On 23 November, Roland was transported to England aboard H.S. “Princess Elizabeth” and admitted to Brook War Hospital at Woolwich. Transferred to 3 Aux. Hosp. (Auxiliary Hospital) on 28 December 1917, he was granted furlough (leave) from 03 January 1918 to 17 January 1918. Roland marched out to O/Seas T. Bde. (Overseas Training Brigade) on 08 February 1918, where he remained until 02 March when he proceeded overseas to France and rejoined his unit on 09 March 1918.

Roland was appointed Lance Corporal on 03 May 1918. On 18 July 1918, he was wounded a third time when he suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg. From 3 A.F.A. to 1 C.C.S and 30 G.H., Roland was once again transported to England, this time aboard H.S. “Brighton.” Once off the hospital ship, Roland was admitted to East Suffolk & Ipswich Hospital. That was 26 July 1918, then 3 weeks later, Roland was transferred to 3 Aux. Hosp. Roland was granted furlough from 16 August to 30 August 1918, and reported to No. 4 C.D. (Command Depot). He headed for 1 C.D. on 09 October, then out to O/Seas T.B. On 29 October 1918, Roland was admitted to Sutton Veny Hospital with pneumonia. He died on 14 November 1918 of influenza. Roland was buried at the St. John the Evangelist Churchyard, Sutton Veny in the military section.

• Belguim
• France
• France
• France

Cooroy District Honor Roll (Enlistments), Cooroy Memorial Hall, Maple Street, Cooroy;

Shire of Noosa Roll of Honor, Shire Council Chambers, Pelican Street, Tewantin;

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war);

Panel 57 Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra.