Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1914 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/372, the
son of William & Augusta Louisa Holt (nee Sanders).  His parents married in
Camberwell, London in 1902.

1921 Census - 17, Viola Street, Clayton, Manchester.   Son - aged: 8 -
born: Manchester.   Head of household - William Holt - Married - aged: 52 -
occ: Commercial Traveller for John Rouse Restaurant Engineers - born:
Haughton Green Manchester.    Also Augusta Louisa Holt - Wife - aged: 47 -
occ: Home Duties - born: Peckham, London.   Plus 2 elder brothers and 1
boarder.

Married Edna Fargher during the September quarter 1`937 in the Manchester
South R.D. - ref: 8d/97.

1939 National Registration - 78 Crofton Avenue, Altrincham.     John Holt -
Born on the 18th May 1913 - Married - occ: Cashier & Book Keeper
Lithographic Artist & Warehouseman.   Edna Holt - Born on the 9th March
1914 - Married - occ: Skirt & Blouse Machinist Military Clothing.

The depot ship - H.M.S. "Hecla" was sunk west of Gibraltar by the German
submarine U-130.

Precise figures for the number of men on HMS Hecla when it was torpedoed
off the coast of Morocco on 11 November 1942, are difficult to ascertain.
The names of 858 men (including 42 officers) are recorded in the Pay and
Victualing Ledgers. The official list of the dead issued by the Admiralty
contained the names of 12 men killed and 273 "missing presumed killed".
Both lists can be seen on this web site.

Other sources record 799 ratings and 39 officers as being on HMS Hecla, of
which 556 were rescued. HMS Marne rescued 64 before a torpedo blew off its
stern (left) but the vast majority, 493, were saved by HMS Venomous despite
having to break off its rescue to attack the German U-boat. 

CWGC - Son of William and Augusta Louise Holt; husband of Edna Holt, of
Timperley, Cheshire.