ROLLS, Glanville Henry George
| Service Number: | 3481 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 August 1915, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 49th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kingsborough, Cairns, North Queensland, Australia, 6 December 1888 |
| Home Town: | Port Curtis, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | State School, Queensland |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Mouquet Farm, France, 5 September 1916, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Calliope War Memorial, Many Peaks Roll of Honour, Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3481, 9th Infantry Battalion, Rockhampton, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3481, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Bee, Brisbane 11th Reinforcements | |
| 29 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 49th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 3481, 49th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3481 awm_unit: 49th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-09-05 |
GHG Rolls Poem
My great-uncle Glanville Henry George Rolls (known as George) wrote a poem while on board his ship heading to battle entitled "Australia as a Nation". It shows the optimistic and patriotic frame of mind of the soldiers at that time. A digitised copy of the poem is now held by the State Library of Queensland and is attached here under the "Links & Documents" heading.
George was killed at the battle of Moquet Farm on 5 September 1916.
Private HF Roles of the 49th Battalion wrote - "We lost poor old George Rolls in our last stunt. He is reported missing. I don't hold much hope for him unless he was taken prisoner. I don't think that was so, though let us hope he is safe - he was a great mate to have. I don't think you could get a better mate than George".
I enjoy the entry in his war record showing a charge brought against him in Sept. 1915 - for "playing piano during parade hours"!! I wish I had heard him.
Ian Walker
Submitted 17 August 2024 by Ian Walker
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Glanville Henry George ROLLS was born on 6th December, 1888 at Kingsborough, Cairns, North Queensland
His parents were Edwin Hillary ROLLS and Agnes FLETCHETT who married in St Matthias Church of England in Bombala, NSW on 23rd April, 1884
He enlisted in Rockhampton, Queensland on 5th August, 1915 and embarked on 21st October, 1915 from Brisbane on the ship Seang Bee with the 9th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements
He was transferred to the 49th Infantry Battalion on 29th February, 1916
Glanville died on 5th September, 1916 at Mouquet Farm in France - he has no known grave
His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & the Villers Bretonneux War Memorial
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal
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His brother Arthur Richard ROLLS (SN 5141) also served in WW1 and returned to Australia in 1918
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