Roland was the second son of Ernest Lansford and Henrietta Palmer. His father had travelled round the country and Ernest his older brother was born in Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight.  Roland was born in Stourport, Worcestershire and the youngest child Bertram was born in Stamford. Thefamily lived in Northfields in 1901 at 1 St George’s Villas then in 1911 at 26 Kings Road.

Roland joined the Merchant Navy as a cadet and was First Mate in 1926. He stayed in the service until 1924. He married Elizabeth Thomas in Abergavenny in 1930. He gave his occupation as Beachmaster when he travelled to Lagos in 1951. He died in Birkenhead in December1977.