FENTON, Roland
| Service Number: | 5022 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 January 1916, Casula, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia, 1 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Camperdown, Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 3 May 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5022, Casula, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5022, 18th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: Given name incorrectly splet as Rowland on original record | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5022, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5022, 18th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Roland FENTON, (Service Number 5022) was born on 1 September 1893 at Camperdown, Sydney.
He began working for the NSW Railways as a junior porter in the Traffic Branch at Darling Harbour. On his 21st birthday he became an (adult) porter and it was from this role that he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 31 January 1916, the same day as his enlistment. He was not married and gave his mother, Emma, as his next of kin. He left Australia through Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Kyarra’ on 5 June 1916 and reached Devonport on 3 August.
Roland Fenton was killed in action at Bullecourt on 3 May 1917.
‘He was killed by a bullet through the head, which came out through his face. We bound up his face and head; but he was dead. We got a knockback so Fenton was not buried at all.’ (Pte J Clarke 4389)
His mate’s observation was correct. His remains, nor any grave which might contain them was ever located and so he is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Submitted 1 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"...5022 Private Roland Fenton, 18th Battalion. A railway porter from Camperdown, NSW prior to enlistment, Pte Fenton embarked with the 13th Reinforcements from Sydney on HMAT Kyarra on 5 June 1916. On 3 May 1917 he was killed in action in France and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Roland FENTON (Service Number 5022) was born on 1st September 1893 at Camperdown, Sydney.
He began working for the NSW Railways as a junior porter in the Traffic Branch at Darling Harbour. On his 21st birthday he became an (adult) porter and it was from this role that he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 31st January 1916.
He was enlisted o the same day. He was not married and gave his mother, Emma, as his next of kin.
He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Kyarra’ on 5 thJune 1916. He reached Devonport (England) on 3rd August. He was immediately admitted to hospital with mumps. After he had recuperated from that he was absent without leave (AWL) for three days. This cost him 10 days’ pay. In October he went to France and was taken on the strength of the 18th Australian Infantry Battalion on 12th November.
Roland Fenton was killed in action at Bullecourt on 3rd May 1917.
‘He was killed by a bullet through the head, which came out through his face. We bound up his face and head; but he was dead. We got a knockback so Fenton was not buried at all.’ (Pte J Clarke 4389)
His mate’s observation was correct. His remains, nor any grave which might contain them was ever located and so he is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
By 1922, when mementoes and service medals were issued, Fenton’s mother had died, and Roland Fenton’s eldest surviving brother, Fred, was entitled to them. He waived his right in favour of their sister Annie Elizabeth.
- based onn notes for the Great Sydney Central Statiion Honour Board
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