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1898 - 1903
Roland Hanwell Harris joined the Territorials in 1908 and rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Civil Service Rifles (CSR) before the war. He was a School of Arms Champion. Promoted to Company Sergeant Major during the war. Served in France in ‘C’ Coy, 1/15th Londons (CSR). Citation for award of Military Cross, London Gazette, 23/6/1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry. After a counter attack he went out and bandaged wounded men in broad daylight. He moved about under constant machine gun and rifle fire.’ This brave act took place during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 21–22 May 1916. After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant he was posted to the CSRs’ 2nd Battalion, the 2/15th London Regiment, and went out to the Middle East. He was killed in action at Tel el Fur in a bayonet charge during the defence of Jerusalem, 27/12/1917, aged 33. Commemorated Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
