Heath Old Boys Association Obituaries: Roland Woolfall Siddall

Roland Woolfall Siddall: 18 January 1894–14 April 1918 [Heath 1906–1910]

Roland Siddall was determined to fight but became one of two brothers killed in the same week.

Head and shoulders of Roland Siddall — Roland Woodfall Siddall

He was born on 16 November 1894. He father was Herbert Siddall, Westover Villas, Hopwood Lane, who was a Master tailor. He attended Heath from 18 September 1906 to 27 July 1910, leaving to become a junior clerk.

Service history: he enlisted in Aug 1914 as Private No. 200675 in the 1^st/4^th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. He had a weak heart and so was given home duties. He served in 2^nd/4^th Battalion West Riding Regiment HQ Staff as a sergeant while it was in England and later at the York Record Office rising there to staff quarter-master sergeant. He was determined to join a fighting unit and relinquished rank in April 1918 to join the 3^rd/4^th Battalion West Riding Regiment (62 Division).

Fate: he was killed on his first day in action, 14 April 1918, near Arras defending against the huge German Spring offensive of 1918. His brother 2^nd/Lieutenant Douglas Siddall (Machine Gun Corps) was killed on 11 April 1918 in the same week as him. He was buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery.

With thanks to David Millichope