Name
Roland Laughton Champion
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/03/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment *1
20th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure No.4 I. C. 2.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
Roland Laughton Champion was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire in 1896, son of William Ambrose Champion a, Civil Engineer and Surveyor and Catherine Maude Champion (nee Young). One of three son’s Richard born 1893 and Donald born 1903.
His parents married at St. Philips Church, Dalston, Hackney, Middx, on 3rd September 1887.
Roland was Baptised in the Parish of Waltham Cross, on 9th September 1896, with his elder brother Richard Ambrose Champion.
1901 Census records Roland aged 4, living with his parents, and brother Richard (8) at, 44 York Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
His father William died on 11th March 1911, aged 45.
1911 Census records Roland aged 14, at school, living with his widowed mother, brothers Richard (18), and Donald (8), still at 44 York Road, Waltham Cross.
Wartime Service
We believe on his enlistment Roland was posted to the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers with the service number 200608. Later commissioned 2nd Lieutenant to the 20th (County of London) Battalion, (Blackheath and Woolwich) London Regiment.
He arrived in France on 9th October 1916, seeing action on the Western Front. He was killed in Action on 17th March 1917, aged 20 and is buried in the CWGC Bedford House Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Additional Information
His effect were split between his mother Catherine and elder brother Richard. £31-7s-00d, from his Pay Owing went to his mother and £15-13s-5d, to his brother. His War Gratuity of £11, went to his mother.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
