Lives of the First World War

Harold was awarded two medals: The British War Medal and the gold Victory Medal

Harold Holgate in uniform. Harold volunteered and joined the 3/9th Battalion London Regiment, the Queen Victoria Rifles on 10th November 1914, as a Rifleman. He tired of still being in England a year after enlisting and so applied for a Commission. He was discharged from the QVR on 7th January 1916 and was commissioned into the 14th Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 8th January 1916. He then attended for officer training on the Mons Course, Wadham College, Oxford, passing out in March 1916. On 4th August 1916 he was attached to the 1st Battalion who were at that time on the Somme. He arrived in France and joined his Battalion on 11th August. He was in and out of the line many times between then and his death, at Morval, on 25th September 1916.

Harold's name on the wall of the Thiepval Memorial

Typed up letter page 1 that Harold wrote home two days before he died to his brother Steve Holgate

Typed up letter page 1 that Harold wrote home two days before he died to his brother Steve Holgate

A letter Harold wrote home to his brother Steve on 23rd September 1916, two days before he died.

A letter Harold wrote home to his brother Steve on 23rd September 1916, two days before he died.

A letter Harold wrote home to his brother Steve on 23rd September 1916, two days before he died.

Letter from Ministry of Defence giving details of Harold Holgate's war service

Letter from Ministry of Defence giving details of Harold Holgate's war service

Census 1901 showing Harold Holgate age 5 in 1901 living at 320 Lillie Road, Fulham with his parents Arthur and Evelyn and sister, Eva, and brother, Stephen

coloured photo of my grandfather's cousin