202005 PTE. W. HOLLAND. L.N.LAN.R.

 

Wilfred Holland was born in Bamber Bridge in the first quarter of 1896.  His father was Thomas Holland, (b. 1856 in Preston) a spinner by trade; his mother was Margaret Alice Lancaster (b. 1860 in Bamber Bridge).  After they married in the late 1870s, Tom and Margaret moved to the School Lane area between Bamber Bridge and Walton Le Dale.  They had 16 children, 13 of whom survived infancy: Joseph (b. 1879), Elizabeth Ellen (b. 1880), Isabella (b. 1883), Peter (b. 1884), Annie (b. 1886), Mary Jane (b. 1888), Thomas (b. 1889), George (b. 1890), John (b. 1893), Thurstan (b. 1894), then Wilfred, James (b. 1898) and finally Margaret Alice (b. 1903).  Tom Holland died in 1903, aged 47, just a few months after the birth of his youngest daughter.  In 1911, Wilfred was living with his mother and 6 siblings at 20 School Lane, Bamber Bridge and working as a cotton spinner in the mill across the road.

 

When Wilfred attested on 11 December 1915, he gives his occupation as rubber worker.  He was 5’ 6” tall and had a 37” chest.  He was mobilised on 3 February 1916 and posted to 2/4 Bn of the Loyals with service number 4820, which would later become 202005.  2/4Bn came under orders of 170th Brigade in 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division.  57th Division went to France on 8 February 1917 (Wilfred was with them).  In June 1917, 2/4 and 2/5Bns were briefly detached from 57th Division and attached to 3rd Australian Division with the task of holding the front from the River Lys to St. Yves as a defensive front on which other operations could pivot.  Having achieved this objective, the Bns rejoined 57th Division in mid June and moved to billets at Estaires.  On the 28-29 July, “D” Coy of the Battalion carried out a successful raid on the enemy trenches, taking a number of prisoners.  On 2 August the Bn went back into Brigade reserve at l’Épinette but immediately upon their return to the trench line on 10 August, the Bn came under heavy shelling and Lt. R. de P. Eddison and four men were killed and nine were wounded.  Wilfred Holland was among the dead.  He was 21 years old.

 

Rank:  Private

Service No:  202005

Date of Death:  10/08/1917

Age:  21

Regiment/Service:  The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 2nd/4th Bn.

Grave Reference:  VIII. D. 27.

Cemetery:  CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES

Additional Information:  Son of Thomas and Margaret Ann Holland, of 28 School Lane, Preston, Lancs.

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For details of the rest of the Holland family, click here.

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