Soldier
Roland battled with his decision to join the Army trying to reconcile his wish to serve his country with his Scout values of peace and friendship.
Following the outbreak of the First World War Roland became a Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Before leaving for the Western Front Roland purchased a house in Stepney with the idea of using it to benefit Scouting, he wrote to Robert Baden-Powell to express his wishes;
“…the training centre in East London will in any case be at the service of the East London Scouts next summer. In case during the war I go on the bigger Scouting expedition, as so many have already done, I want to ask you as a special kindness to pass over the buildings, on my behalf, to the Scouts I care for so greatly in East London. One could live or die gladly in this or any other world if one knew that Scout ideas were held on high by the men and boys of this country.”
Throughout his Army training and service Roland maintained a constant stream of communication with his Scouting friends. On the 26 March 1916 he wrote the following to Baden-Powell;
"It bucks me up to know that you have work for me amongst the boys of Britain when the War is over. I long to come back and do it, it would be the moment of most perfect happiness in my life.”
