Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Albert Communal Cemetery Extension | I. K. 4. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.128 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 11A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Born 1877, son of John James and Mary Lines, of Aldbury, Tring, England. Architect (Edmonton, Alberta). He emigrated to Canada in 1906 and settled in Edmonton. He designed many buildings in Edmonton, a golf course and a church.See also: Scottish Architects and also the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canda.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1st Field Company Canadian Engineers |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
Attested for service in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on the 15th January 1915.
Probate shows: LINES Roland Walter of Edmonton Canada died 9 September 1916 in France Administration (with Will) (limited) London 27 to Thomas Hume Bischoff solicitor the attorney of National Trust Company limited Wiliam Henry Shephard and William Ernest Lines. £214 19s. 7d.
He is remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and also at his parent's grave at the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist at Aldbury.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Berkhampstead No. 504 E.C. | Hertfordshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
18th January 1905 | 17th May 1905 | 13th September 1905 |
Recorded in the contribution record of the Lodge at the United Grand Lodge of England as an Architect, resident at Tring. Although no war service is recorded, the final annotation declares "Killed in Action Sept 1916."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley