Lives of the First World War

Private Harry Holland originally enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers at Leigh (Service no. 16317 and later 35306) and was later transferred to the 10th (Service) Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment (Service no. 32950), 101st Brigade, 34th Division. The 10th Battalion was more commonly known as the ‘Grimsby Chums.’ He was born on 15th March 1895 at Park House Cottage, Astley, the son of William and Lucy Jane Holland (nee Brereton). His father was a coalminer but he was determined that his son would have a surface job. He paid for Harry to attend Leigh Grammar School. After leaving school Harry was employed at Astley Green Colliery as a timekeeper and wages clerk. Harry married Jane Clifton on 16th June 1915 and they originally resided with Jane’s parents at Railway View Farm, Astley Road, Irlam. Their son, named Harry Clifton Holland, was born later that year on 1st December. By this date Harry, Jane and their son had moved to 10 Third Avenue, Peel Lane, Astley. He enlisted in either late 1915 or early 1916, into the Lancashire Fusiliers as Private 16317 and served with the 13th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. By November 1916 he was stationed at Brocton and had been promoted to Lance Corporal (re-numbered 35306). He went overseas on 16th December 1916, departing Folkestone at 4.45am and arriving later that day at Boulogne. On 17th December he was sent to Calais and by 3rd January 1917 he was serving at Steenwerck, Erquinghem. On 6th January he was posted to Fort Romper where he joined the 10th Lincolns. Harry remained in the uniform of the Lancashire Fusiliers while serving with the Lincolns. Harry recorded the places he visited and dates in the margins of his Active Service New Testament. The following is a summary of his movements on the Western Front: 10th January Laundry Farm, 16th January in second line trenches at Bois Greuier, 22nd January Canteen Farm, 26th January in frontline trenches at Bois Greuier, 27th January Mount des Cats at Berthen, 19th February Hazebrouck, 20th February Mossent-Froutes, 21st February Bours, 22nd February Magnicourt-en-Comte, 8th March Anzin, 13th March Mount St Eloi, 15th March Bois de Habareg Wood, 19th March Arras, 20th March second line trenches, 23rd March Roclincourt, 29th March St Catherine, 1st April third line trenches, 4th April Roclincourt and on 5th April Louez. His diary also contained entries on 23rd January stating that Hillam was wounded and Cornish killed. On 5th March he recorded that the battalion was reviewed by Sir Douglas Haig. In what was probably his last letter home, Harry wrote: ‘I am alright myself except that I have had chilblains in my feet but those are nearly better now. The weather has begun to be a little warmer and nearly all the snow has disappeared but I would rather have the frost than it be muddy under foot, the roads got muddy today about noon. How are you all going on the moss? I suppose you yourself will be looking after the larder and keeping it pretty warm. I daresay your old man will be sending for old McConnell and asking him to send a few men to have the doors widened you know you were not so little when I last set eyes on you. Well I am not looking so bad myself you see I get my Army rations which is not overfacing for a man of my appetite and then I spend all my pay on food except for a little chocolate, etc. Well you must send me a parcel every fortnight and put some of those cakes of yours in and put plenty of currants and raisins etc in, you know how I like them, also could you send me another mince pie or two if you have got any. Those two you sent are the only ones I have had this season. I think by the time you read this you will begin to get tired so I think I will close with best love to you all. Kiss our Harry for me. I suppose when I see him again it will take me all my time to catch him I don’t think. How is Mrs Dyke going on? Does she put much time in at the moss now? In my last letter I said I did not know who you meant by Willie love but it tumbled to me the night after when I got into my bed of hay and lay thinking. You mean Mrs Chapman’s Willie. Who has got the Tonge’s house, is it anybody off the village? Who is keeping house for Jessie Smith’s father now, is Lotte doing it? I suppose Ellen Brobbins young man has got his discharge. Bill Wallbanke told me in his last letter, I suppose she will begin to pick up again a bit now. How is Teddy Tonge’s wife taking it and also what is her sister doing? Has Wilf Hurst done anything yet, has he gone up yet? There seems to be more of those sort of cares than there used to be. As I think that this will be enough for you to read at once and that you will have enough to write about in your next letter if you answer all the questions I have.’

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