Newspaper Articles re Neville Rollason’s World War IAdventures
Under Heading “Roll of Honour” in “Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle” 5th June 1915 and “The Argus” Tuesday 8th June 1915:
Lance-Sergeant Neville Allan Rollason (wounded)is the eldest son of Dr. A. Rollason, of Heidelberg. He was educated at King's College, Clifton Hill, and at the MelbourneGrammar School. He was a cadet at the college, and was lance-corporal in the 55th Collingwood titles when war broke out, being promoted to lance-sergeant at Broadmeadows. He was employed in the head office of the Royal Bank, Collins street and was one of the first to enlist. He celebrated his 20th birthday in Egyptand was offered a commission in Kitchener's army, but refused, preferring to stay with his company.
Under heading “Letters from the Front” in “Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle” 26th June 1915:
Lance-Sergeant Neville Rollason, writing to his mother, at Heidelberg, from the Imtarfa Hospital, Malta, on 25th May, says:"I had a fortnight's experience of fighting before I was hit, so I have some great yarns to tell of active service. We landed atthe Dardanelles on 25th April, under heavy rifle and shrapnel fire. We charged the Turks and chased them for about five miles, but had to retire, owing to our big guns not being landed at once. However, when they were landed we gave the enemy hell. We were in the trenches for three days before we were relieved, and as we had no over coats or oil sheets you can guess how cold the nights were. We could only sleep in the day time, because the Turks kept at us all night and gave us no rest. We stayed in one position for about ten days, and then on 5th May we were quietly taken down to the beach and put on boats. We travelled all night, and as the sun was getting up we arrived at Point Helles, at the mouth of the Dardanelles. We (the 2nd Infantry Brigade, Victoria), had made such a name for ourselves at Kaba Tepe that the "heads" decided to give us a tough job down with the Tommies and the French. We had a well-earned rest for two days, and then on Saturday afternoon, 7th May, we marched to the firing line. We waited until four o'clock, and then attacked the enemy. We advanced under a terrible fire from rifles, machine guns, and shrapnel for a distance of 800 yards. When I say we, I mean the others, for I got in the way of a Turkish machine gun at 600 yards. I stopped a bullet in the head, one grazed my shoulder, and one went right across my back. The wound in the head bled a good deal before I could get it bandaged. Seven other chaps were either killed or wounded just near to me, and it was a veritable death-trap. We laid flat for an hour and ahalf, and during that time we were being fired at incessantly. I got my cap shot off by another bullet, so you can see I was very lucky. How ever, I managed to crawl back with another chap who had his jaw broken by an explosive bullet.We were dressed down on the beach, and in the morning we were taken on a transport with 800 others and arrived at Alexandia three days later. The more serious cases were taken off, and we went on to Malta.I have been in the hospital for four days now, and yesterday the officer told us we would most probably go to England and get all right again. I will be all right there, as I will be able to visit my relatives."
Under heading “Local Soldier Eulogised” in “Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle” Saturday 11th September 1915:
At the Heidelberg progress meeting on Monday evening Mr M. A. Macleod stated that he was recently accosted in a Melbourne street by a returned soldier named Private Anderson, who had received, a bullet wound in the head, and was asked if he knew Sergeant Neville Rollason, of Heidelberg. Mr Macleod replying in the affirmative, the soldier said he would be very pleased to meet Sergeant Rollason's parents, to express to them his appreciation of their son's conduct. Both he and the Sergeant were lying wounded on the battle field, and, although severely wounded himself, the latter rendered him such aid that probably his life was saved in consequence. Mr Macleod informed the members that he was proud to learn of such conduct on the part of a local boy.
Under heading “Commissions Abroad” in “The Argus” Thursday 2nd March 1916and “Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle” Saturday 4th March 1916
Sergeant Neville Rollason, son of Dr. Rollason of Heidelberg, has informed his father that he has received his commission as a lieutenant in the 6th Battalion.Lieutenant Rollason, who left Australia with the first forcewas wounded at Krithia on May 8th and after returning to the front was again sent to the hospital in August, suffering from dysentry. He rejoined his unit in October and served with his battalion at the Dardanelles until the evacuation.