Roland Stephen Lacey was born on May 17, 1888 in Western Cove, White Bay to parents William Charles and Lavinia Lacey.
Roland signed up for the lst Newfoundland Regiment on September 4, 19l4, his enrollment number was #77 putting him in the first l00. His attestation papers show he had 5 years previous in the Royal Naval Reserve. It was noted he had dark brown hair, 5' l0d", brown eyes, and 151 lbs. He had a tattoo mark on his left arm. He listed his occupations as sailor, fisherman, and miner prior to his signing up.
He left for the UK on October 3, 1914, on the SS Florizal as a member of the Blue Puttees. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on Aug 20, 1915, a soldier in the famous Gallipolli adventure.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on Feb 3, 1916. Roland went to France on March 25, 1916, and was wounded in the Battle at Beaumont Hamel on July 1, 1916. After a convalescent period, he was embarked to Newfoundland and discharged on November 7, 1917 as medically unfit due to his foot and leg injury.

After discharge from the Regiment, Roland was not long in finding another useful capacity in which to serve as he entered the Merchantile Marine and sailed in the Watuga for Portugal. 450 miles off the coast of Lisbon on March 27, 1918, the vessel fell afoul of a German submarine. The crew of 6 were ordered into a boat and the Watuga was sent to the bottom by a torpedo. Without food and little protection against the weather, the men made their way to the coast, reaching it in six days. In their exhausted condition, the boat overturned as a landing was attempted. The only survivor was Roland Lacey.

In 1930, Roland was employed by the Newfoundland Light & Power Co. As a motorman for the streetcar service for a period of 9 years. On December 9, 1930, some electric lines were down on Water Street at Becks Cove. Motorman Lacey stopped his streetcar to let down some passengers, and upon seeing the broken wires, he attempted to move them so as they would not be a menace to the public.
The lines, when they broke, fell across the transmission lines for the motorway, carrying 2,200 volts, which went through Roland Lacey's body, as he attempted to move the wires, causing him to be thrown backwards onto the sidewalk. . He pulled himself up and said "I'm ok", however 2 constables helped him walk a few steps before he collapsed. He was pronounced dead.

Roland was 43 years of age and left to mourn a pregnant wife, Louisa (Corcoran) and six children, the eldest being 8.
As of 2012, Mary Morse, Roland's only daughter, is his only surviving child at the age of 88, residing in Vermont, USA, along with many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren in Canada and the USA.

Roland Lacey

War Service Badge

Mercantile Marine Medal
1914 - 1918