2nd Lieutenant, 22nd Squadron Royal Air Force.
Died 2nd April 1918, age 23.
Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
Student of dentistry.
Roland was born in 1895 at Chorley to Charles and Mary Ann Critchley of Fairhaven/Lytham St. Annes. Educated at Holinshead St Congregational School and Chorley Secondary School he entered Manchester University in 1913 to study dentistry. From December 1914 until March 1917 he was a member of the University Officer Training Corps and went on to be commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps. His RFC records shows that he was absent from duty between 4th and 15th December 1917 due to eczema on his face, arms and trunk. It is believed that he was the observer in an aircraft that scored 7 victories against the enemy in March 1917. In early April 1918 he and his pilot were reported missing after their plane, which had been involved in combat, was seen going down in flames in the area south of Albert, France.