Trafford

Born on the 27th November 1895 at 54 School Road, Sale, the birth being
registered during the March quarter 1896 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref:
8a/167, the only son of Frederick & Maria Hetherington Holland (nee
Thompson).

1901 Census - 54 School Road, Sale.   Son - aged: 5 - born: Sale.    Head
of household - Frederick Holland - Married - aged: 45 - occ: House
Decorator (Employer) - born: Nantwich, Cheshire.   Also - Maria H. Holland
- Wife - aged: 36 - born: Ellel, Lancashire.  Plus 1 elder sister.

1911 Census - 68 School Road, Sale.   Son - aged: 15 - Scholar - born:
Sale.   Head of household - Frederick Holland - Married - aged: 54 - occ:
House Decorator (Employer) - born: Nantwich, Cheshire.   Also - Maria
Hitherington Holland - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Ellel, Lancashire.  Plus 1
elder sister.

Attended Manchester Grammar School until 1912 and was then employed by
Messrs. A.& S. Henry, Manchester, Distributers of Cotton Goods.

Enlisted on the 2nd September 1914 and was trained at Heaton Park, Belton
Park, Lincolnshire and Larkhill, Wiltshire and posted into the Machine Gun
Section.     He served throughout the Battle of the Somme 1916.

Originally served as a Private in the Manchester Rgt - commissioned into
the Middlesex Rgt.

His WO363 Records have survived.    He enlisted as a Private in the 16th
Battalion (1st City Bn), Manchester Regiment on the 2nd September 1914 No.
6756.   Then aged, 19 years 1 month, his occupation given as a Clerk.  He
was 5 feet 7¾ inches in height, weighed 126 lb and had a 31½ to 33½ inch
chest measurement.   He had grey eyes and black hair.   His service
comprised - 02/09/1915 to 07/11/1915 at Home in UK = 1 year 67 days. 
08/11/1915 to 16/04/1916 in France = 1 year 160 days.  Whilst in France, on
09/07/1916, he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal.   He was posted back to
England on 17/04/1916 and still as a Lance Corporal, he was posted to the
58th Training Reserve Battalion at Kimnel, north Wales on 26/05/1917.   His
number was then given a TR/4 prefix.   He was discharged from the ranks on
30/10/1917 = 197 days at home (UK).  He then attended the No.9 Officer
Cadet Battalion, Ayrshire, Scotland from where he successfully obtained a
commission in the 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, Great Lines,
Gillingham, Kent.  

Although assigned to the 5th Battalion, it would appear that at the time of
his death, he was attached to the 1/8th Battalion.  (SDGW states 1st Bn?)  
 

His MIC states that he was drafted to France on the 8th November 1915,
qualifying for the 15 Star, the BWM and VM.  It also records that he was
commissioned on the 30th October 1917 and that his parents lived at Holly
Lodge, School Road, Sale.

The 17/05/1918 edition of the local newspaper reported that he was missing
since 12/04/1918.

His father was the Secretary for the Sale & Ashton on Mersey Conservative
Club.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in St. Martin's Churchyard.  
 His father Frederick died 21/08/1925 aged 69 years and his mother Maria
died 28/03/1941.