Roland Clarence Carman

War: World War One

Rank: Private

Service Number: 5063

Units Served: 16th Reinforcements 10th Battalion (Infantry)

Personal Details:Roland Clarence Carman was the eldest of 9 children born to David and Elizabeth Carman. He was born on the 20th of January 1894 at Keilli, a small rural town north west of Port Broughton. After his parents moved to a farm just south of Port Broughton he attended most of his schooling years at Wards Hill. In his senior years of schooling he took on greater responsibilities and left school to work on the family farm “Budoryn House”. He was a strong believer in manual labour, every day he could be found working on the farm helping support his 9 younger siblings. Roland was the tallest of his siblings standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall and had a dark complexion with brown eyes and dark hair. He was a member of the Port Broughton Rifle Club for three years. When the war broke out his knowledge on gun management and use was a valuable skill to have. Prior to the war Roland was rejected from the AIF for having varicose veins.

Enlistment Details: Roland enlisted on the 19th of January 1916, he was 21 years and 11 months at the time.

Details about his role in the war: On the 25th of March 1916 Roland embarked Adelaide on board the HMAT Shropshire. Where he travelled to England. On the 22th of July 1916 Roland was admitted to hospital at Brimstone England, he was discharged to duty on the 3rd of August 1916. On the 15th of August 1916 he proceeded to France. On the 1st of September 1916 Roland was taken on by strength by the 10th Battalion . After spending just over a year with the allied forces, Roland was wounded near Louverval and was recorded as killed in action on the 8th of April 1917.

Age at Death: Roland was 23 years old when he was Killed in Action near Louverval on the 8th April 1917.

Cemetery or Memorial Details: Australian National Memorial – Villers-Bretonneux, France

Interesting material: Roland may have tried to enlist before his other siblings, however, due to varicose veins he was rejected from the AIF. Roland received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.