MILITARY MEDALIST HOME - Lance Corporal Roden, the winner of the Military Medal for bravery on the field of battle, has been home on furlough this week. Despite the hardships of the long campaign he is looking fit and well. Tomorrow (Saturday) Lance Corporal Roden will be made the recipient of a presentation in recognition of him being awarded the Military Medal. The presentation will take place in the Lesser Hall at 4.30pm.

Midlothian Advertiser, 26th January, 1917

WEST CALDER MILITARY MEDALIST KILLED

We regret to announce that official notice has been received that Lance Corporal Robert Roden, West Calder, of the Royal Scots, winner of the Military Medal, was killed in action on April 9th. Lance Corporal Roden was home in February, when he was presented with a gold-filled watch and chain by the Heroes Fund Committee, in recognition of gallantry in the field. He was looking remarkably well at that time, despite the fact that he had undergone all the hardships of the campaign. A noteable feature was his desire to be back in France to do his bit, as he was very hopeful this year would see the Germans beaten.

Midlothian Advertiser, May 4, 1917

In Memory of
R RODON MM
Lance Corporal
13440
12th Bn., Royal Scots
who died on
Monday, 9th April 1917. Age 29.

Additional Information:  Son of Mrs. B. Caine, of 25, Clyde St., West Calder, Midlothian.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery:  BAILLEUL ROAD WEST CEMETERY, ST. LAURENT-BLANGY, Pas de Calais, France
Grave Reference/Panel Number:  B. 13.

Historical Information: Part of the commune and the greater part of the village of St. Laurent-Blangy were included in the front taken over by British troops in March, 1916, and the remainder fell into British hands on the first day of the Battles of Arras, the 9th April, 1917. Bailleul Road West Cemetery was made by the 12th Royal Scots in May, 1917. There are now nearly 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified. The date of death was in all cases the 9th April, 1917. The cemetery covers an area of 359 square metres and is enclosed by a low flint wall on a rubble base.

CWGC website

Note : the difference in spelling between the name on the village war memorial and official records !