Harley ROLLAND - anyone know him or heard of him ?

Hi everyone,
I actually work in a care home and the wee lady in my work whom is a resident and is 101 asked me to try and find this man harley roland. Think he was from glasgow died in ww2 in his 20s got his legs blown off. That's about all I know. Would love to put a smile on her face as I think this was her first love. Would love to try and find out as much information as possible if anyone knows or has heard the name.
Best wishes jade x

 

Possibly Archibald Harley Rolland Lieutenant Archibald Harley Rolland | War Casualty Details 2452975 | CWGC
LIEUTENANT ARCHIBALD HARLEY ROLLAND
Service Number: 312857
Regiment & Unit: Royal Armoured Corps, 1st Lothians and Border Horse
Date of Death: 11 December 1944
Age 23 years old
Buried or commemorated at GLASGOW (EASTWOOD) NEW CEMETERY
Grave Reference: Sec. H. Grave 1213.
Location: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Son of John Rolland, and of Margaret Rolland, of Giffnock, Renfrewshire.
Personal Inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN" HIS FATHER JOHN ROLLAND DIED 15TH MAY 1940


Edit - if that is him he gets a mention on this thread 1st Lothians & Border Yeomanry which has him badly wounded in the arm and leg

 

Commisioned from the ranks/cadet 19th Mar. 1944: London Gazette Announcement 25th April 1944 formerly 7940320 Archibald Harley Rolland enlisted Royal Armoured Corps.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36482/supplement/1881/data.pdf


Kyle

 

312857 Rolland, Casualty lists confirm 'Died of wounds'

Lieut Archibald Harley Rolland (unknown-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial

 

Do u think it would be quite common back then to call him by his middle name instead of his first name? Thank you all so much for your help xx

 

it could have been possible

Many people used and still use their middle name instead of their first name

 

Common at any time if they preferred it.

 

From the Lothian's War Diary

The Capture and Escape of 1423111 Tpr Wilkinson G, C Sqn

On Mon 14 Aug 44, while attacking Falaise, an 88mm knocked out our tk and set it on fire, at about 1445hrs. The crew managed to bale out. We reached a Bren carrier, which was standing on a path a short distance away. There were some more members of the tps and counting them I found nine instead of fifteen, so I returned to the tks, where I found the tp ldr (2Lt A H Rolland) badly wounded. He was being assisted by Tpr Mathieson, who was also wounded. We rendered first aid as best we could, and were later joined by Cpl Kirkwood, whom I asked to go and fetch an ambulance.

The ammo was beginning to explode in the burning tks, so Tpr Mathieson and myself lay down, one on either side of Mr Rolland, to protect him from flying fragments. All this time we were being machine-gunned.

About an hour and a half later I saw a Canadian DR and asked him to take Tpr Mathieson back to a first aid post, and send an ambulance for the tp ldr. I had used up all the morphia, so jumped on Sgt Stiles's tk for their first aid kit. As I jumped off again an HE hit the turret lid and the MGs opened up on us. I was so mad that I fired four shots from my revolver without actually realising what I was doing. I saw another wounded man on my right being attended by someone whom I did not recognise, and tried to reach them but the fire was too heavy. Again the morphia was finished and Mr Rolland was in such pain that I gave him chloroform. This treatment I repeated four times. Roughly four hours had passed since the tk was knocked out.

I was now being fired on whenever I moved away from the tp ldr's side and suddenly looking up I saw that I was being covered by two rifles held by Germans standing by Sgt Stiles's tk. One of the Germans advanced towards me, the other remaining in the shadow of the tk. Mr Rolland had recovered consciousness, so I informed him of the situation. With my assistance he looked round and told me not to move. After showing Mr Rolland's wounds to the German I was ordered to carry him on my back to the enemy line, which was about 250yds away. I objected to this, as the tp ldr's arm and leg were almost hanging off.

The German then took me alone to find a German MO. On our way we passed a slit trench in which were five Canadians, whose tk had been knocked out. These were collected and we were taken to the crest of a hill, where the 88mms were situated. We were taken before an officer, whose attitude was very friendly, he motioned me to look across to our tks, where I saw an ambulance pick up Mr Rolland and some more wounded. I then realised that they could quite easily have picked off Mr Rolland and myself where we lay.

 

I notice his grave is in Glasgow - does that mean he would have been repatriated and died in Glasgow ? If so I assume through the Red Cross ? Does anyone know the mechanics. Not come across this before

 

Evacuated to UK hospital & died in December.
Family would have been involved in UK funeral.

 

Wow! Thank you all so much ❤
This will truly mean the world to her.
The place he is buried is actually a 10 minute drive from my house. Thank you all so much for your help I really appreciate it x

 

Fantastic quick responses from the members, well done chaps, a great result .
I love this forum.

 

Just noticed CWGC give GLASGOW (EASTWOOD) NEW CEMETERY whilst Findagrave give GLASGOW (EASTWOOD) OLD CEMETERY ?

Death registered Inveresk and Musselburgh,East Lothian.

Kyle