ROLAND SOUCH was serving as a Pioneer in the 5th Special Battalion, The Royal Engineers when he was killed in action, during the Battle of The Somme, on the 14th July 1916. He was aged 29 and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

He was the son of William and Mary Souch, of Brook End, Chadlington. He had worked as a farm labourer before the war. 

He had previously served with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, before joining the RE. The Fifth Battalion consisted of four companies. They were equipped with the 4" Stokes mortar which fired phosgene, smoke, Thermite and tear gas filled ammunition. During the early part of the Somme battle, they were employed firing smoke rounds, but from September were issued with tear gas ammunition. 

Steve Kingsford