(1891-1918)
Occupation: Architect
Rank: Sergeant
ServiceNumber: 3/84
Force: NZEF
Family
Born on 1 April 1891, son of G.H. and Mary Chadwick, at Manchester in England. At the time of enlisting his parents were living in Hastings. His records include a statement leaving his possessions to Arthur Chadwick at the same address as his parents. This may be a brother.
Pre-War
Roland enjoyed playing tennis, music and going out with friends. He loved drawing and he worked as an architect.
1914
When war broke out Roland was living in Hastings with his family. He enlisted on 11 August in Wellington and joined the Medical Corps. He embarked and sailed with the Main Body in October. He kept a diary that is at Waiouru Army Museum. During the voyage he reported inspections for measles, swimming in the ocean and generally being a bit of ‘a lad’ with all the other young men on board. He was quite pleased he did not suffer seasickness like so many others.
1915
Arriving in Egypt the troops went into serious training. In April he was amongst those landed at Gallipoli, transferred from troopship to Royal Navy destroyer then by lifeboats to shore – under ‘a shower of lead’ and began work on the huge number of wounded soldiers. He was one of the ‘stretcher bearers.’
In May he reported a 7 hour truce to enable both sides to recover dead bodies. He reported tending wounded Turks as well.
Swimming in the sea was a relief from the heat but was done in sight of snipers and men were killed. He wrote of being one of a hundred men dragging a howitzer to the top of Walkers Ridge. He also observed in his diary that the housefly was more dreaded than the Turks because they spread dysentery and disease.
In August he reported on the horrors he saw in the trenches on Walkers Ridge but indicated he would not write it down and describe it even if he could. Unremitting work with little time for sleep or food.
In September he was in hospital on Lemnos then a short period of time to convalesce before returning to his unit in October. November exceedingly cold with snow on the ground and difficulty getting food and supplies ashore. On 11 December the order was given to clear all patients off the Peninsula. The evacuation of Gallipoli had begun and he was amongst those removed on the night of 19 December after almost 8 months on Turkish soil. Roland went again to Lemnos then back to Egypt.
1916
While in training he was promoted to Corporal then to Sergeant. He then sailed for France where he continued to serve until he fell ill.
1918
Roland was returned to England about June and admitted to a convalescent hospital. Two weeks later he took his own life on 3 May 1918, just 6 months before the end of the war on 11 November. He was buried in Torquay.