War; Brothers Lost in WWI Battles

As with most genealogy fans, every branch of my family tree is littered with boys and men, lost in the First and Second World Wars. There is more I would like to uncover about what some of our male and female ancestors did in WWII, but that will mostly have to wait until records are available more readily, online, which should happen in the next year or two. I'm certain there will be more opportunities to write about our WWII ancestors, so for this week's writing prompt I will be writing about my father's two uncles, Richard and Francis Holding. My cousin (first, once removed), Elizabeth Knight, has done a great deal of research on these two brothers, and their short lives as soldiers in the Great War. I have included extracts from her research to this post. I am extremely grateful to Liz for doing all this work.

Richard and Francis Langdon Bell Holding were the two eldest sons, and second and third children, respectively, of Kenyon Holding and Sarah Anne Birkett. Kenyon and Sarah Anne had a large family of 10 children. Richard and Frank can be seen in the back row of this family photo, standing either side of their big sister Edith.

Richard, the older of the two boys, was born first in 1894. Just two short years later Francis Langsdon Bell Holding (aka Frank) arrived. At the time of their births, Kenyon was working as a painter, and the family were living at 17 St Mary's Place, in Lancaster. St Mary's Place was a small yard of workers cottages tucked in at the top of Church Street, in front of the Castle, and next to the Covell Cross.

By the time of the 1911 census, the last to be taken before the outbreak of WWI, the family had grown to the size of 10, with the 2 parents, and eight children at home, including the two eldest brothers, and their sisters Lilly, Lena, and Olive, and younger brothers Joseph, John and Kenyon. Older sister, at the age of 18, had moved out to an uncle and aunt's home, to work as a domestic servant. Their father Kenyon was no long a painter, but working as a window cleaner, and managing the company from the home at 10 Gage Street. Richard was 16 years old, and working with his father, as a window cleaner, and Frank was an office boy at an oil cloth store, at the age of 14.

Frank, the younger of the two, was the first to join up. When he was just 18 years and 3 months, he signed his enlistment papers, in September of 1914, and joined the army, giving his age as 19 and 10 months. Prior to the passing of the Military Service Act of 1916, men and boys could join the army from the minimum age of 18, but could not be sent overseas until they reached the age of 19. Frank had enlisted in such a way that had somewhat sealed his fate.

My cousin Liz's words say it best....

"In early August (1916) the battalion had been to Annual Summer Training Cam, probably at Kirby Lonsdale, but had been called back to Lancaster for mobilisation. At this time the Territorials were liable for home defence duties only. As the men returned from camp they were unable to return to work so did not change out of uniform, but hung around waiting for the Royal Proclamation to be posted. When it was, they rushed to the Drill Halls & by the next evening the men of the 4th and 5th Battalions had undergone medicals and were posted along the railway line from Ulverston to Barrow.

It soon became apparent to the military commanders that the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was not large enough. The Territorials were asked to volunteer for Imperial Service. The 5th Battalion did so immediately. By 1915 the Territorials had proved the value of their pre-war training and some were already in the field. Many Battalions, such as the 1/5th King's Own, had gone to France independently with the result that territorial formations at home consisted of a mixture of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line battalions collected in new formations were numbered when they were sent abroad.

Photolithograph after W B Woollen, 1914

On the 14th August the Battalion was transported to Didcot to carry out railway guard duties. According to Frank's mother, Sarah Anne's notebook, Frank first left on 6th September 1914, so presumably he received some training and then joined the Battalion at Didcot. He left for the second time (perhaps after some leave), and joined his comrades who were now at Sevenoaks, in Kent, on 14th February, 1915. On 14th/15th February 1915 they landed at La Havre.

I have yet to discover what the Battalion did for the next few weeks, but by April they were in Belgium preparing for what was to become the Second Battle of Ypres. The soldiers were now clothed in khaki and had new weapons and transport. Many nights were spent under the stars digging out trenches and building dug outs.

First Glimpse of Ypres, by Lieutenant Cyril Henry Barraud, Beaverbrook Collection of War Art

Extracts from the War Diaries "April 1st- resting 2nd- Church parade 10am. Battalion left RAVETSBERGH at 3pm for billet at BOESCHEPE 6th- Bathing parade. Drill & musketry under OC Coys 8th- Bayonet exercise and company drill. Short route marches. 9th- Left for Ypres. Billeted in school. Remainder of day spent cleaning up billets which were very dirty. 11th- No Sunday Service 12th- Battalion moved for trench duties 13th Trench duties. Heavy shelling throughout the day. Great shortage of sandbags. Parapitrs unhealthy. Require strengthening"

After resting the 1/5th were sent forward to the trenches at Ypres and by the 12th April the second battalion was holding a long front line in Polygon Wood, at the apex of the Salient. On 13th April the 1/5th was subjected to heavy shelling. It would seem that Frank was sent to a place south east of Ypres, to front line trenches. From his position he would have been able to see the enemy lines.

He was killed on 17th April, 1915, 'against Hill 60', which is situated south of Zonnebeke. He was hit in the head by an expanding bullet, and remained unconscious for about one hour before dying. The War Diaries show that only one soldier was killed on this day. Could this have been Frank? The records show that his age was nineteen, but he was only eighteen.

Francis Langdon Bell Holding, 1896 - 1915
Lest We Forget

It is clearly stated in letters (see transcripts below) that Frank was buried in Zonnebeke Wood, in a cemetery, according to the other letter. Locating the position has proved difficult. Certainly, soldiers were buried in cemeteries at this time, but I have found no reference so far to one at Zonnebeke. Also, the term cemetery could have been a polite term for a mass grave. I was assured, when I visited Zonnebeke, that there is no Zonnebeke Wood, however, a few minutes drive from the town is Polygon Wood. Here is a large War Graves Commission Cemetery, but the soldiers buried here were mainly Australians and New Zealanders who fell in a later battle. However, I feel that this is the most likely site and unless further information comes to light, I will assume that Frank's last resting place is somewhere in this area. Within a few weeks this area had fallen behind enemy lines, hence his body was never recovered, nor his grave marked."

In the following days Allied troops in another part of the front line were gassed. Chaos ensued, and of course the German troops took advantage with a push forward. This map from Warfare History Network shows how much land was lost between April 17th, when Frank died, and later in May. The woods at Zonnebeke are easily spotted on the centre right of the map, between the initial front line, and the final position.

Cousin Liz found letters sent to Frank's mother, Sarah Anne, and father, Kenyon Holding, amongst Sarah Anne's papers. They give a wonderful sense of Frank's character, the way the letter authors write about him, as well as reflects the sense in Britain at the time, that the war would be short lived. I also wonder at what the content would have been, in Sarah Anne's letters which we cannot see. I imagine her immense sense of loss, compounded by the reality of Frank's missing body, and place at which to grieve. To Kenyon Holding, 10 Gage Street, Lancaster 5th King's Own RLR 19th April 1915 Dear Mr Holding, You will have already head from Cat Carter of the sad death of your son Frank. He was a splendid lad in every way and was an excellent soldier and it is very hard to be deprived of such fine young fellows. He was in my company and I saw a good deal of him. He was always cheerful and knew no fear and was a splendid spirit among the men. I was with him from the time he was wounded until his death and he passed away quite peacefully and ......... of any pain. He is buried with the other boys in a small cemetery in a wood near here. I am extremely sorry and offer you and your wife my sincere sympathy in you great trouble. You will probably remember me at WE? Clarks Partners Yours sincerely, Robert Gardner 5th September 1915, Sunday To ... F Burke Yours to hand this morning and I must say that I am pleased to receive a letter from a friend of poor Frank, as I knew him well, but I am afraid that it is not possible for you to visit his grave as he was buried in Zonnebeke woods, before the retirement of May 2nd, so that at present at least, to the best of my knowledge, his grave is behind the German firing line. I was near him when he was killed and I can assure you that he knew no pain as he was hit in the head by an expanding bullet..... only lived about an hour without regaining consciousness. Trusting this will meet your inquiries. Yours truly, J Rydeane (?) Expanding bullets, also known as 'dum dum' bullets were outlawed by the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, but both the German and Allies claimed that the other side were using them on the field of battle. Often a claim of the opposition using expanding bullets was in part, propaganda. It's possible that Frank was killed by an expanding bullet to his head, but probably more likely it was a regular bullet, especially since he continued to live for a while, albeit in an unconscious state. In all honesty, it doesn't matter what kind of bullet killed him. Frank died, at an age when he shouldn't have even been overseas, in an awful, bloody battle where 59,000 British soldiers were either wounded, captured, or killed. 23rd September 1915 Private F Burke, 1824 No 2 Signal Sect RE, 146th Inf Bde Hqs, BEF Dear Mrs Holding,

Many thanks for your parcel of Good Stuff. I enjoyed them and sat down after Earing to a Good Cigarette, I am sending you a photo of a Few of our lads; I don't know if you will be able to pick me out; but I am in the back line (with a hood on) Well I am pleased to say that I am alright and in good health but am sorry our rest is over. I have had a letter from home to say that Annie is going on alright, but that she is still in the Infirmary. I did not know you had Germans as prisoners in your town, ugly lot of Brutes arnt they. How us Dick going on. Tell him I send my best regards. I don't know when this lot will be over, but I don't think it will last another twleve months. The German soldier is about beat. Whereas up to two or three months back they had everything their own way, but they don't do it now. However when it does finish there will be only one winning side. I have not much more to say this time so will conclude with many thanks for the parcel and hoping you are in good health. from yours sincerely, Frank

Our 'Little Contemptibles', 1914, by William Barnes Woollen

Richard joined the army just over a year later, in July of 1916. He may have been conscripted, since conscription began in January of the same year. Prior to his joining the army he had been working as a window cleaner. He had also continued in his family's musical tradition, perhaps influenced by his Uncle Frank Bell, and his talented cousins, who made up the Trois Cloches ensemble. Our Dick was window cleaner by day, and pianist and conductor at the Lancaster Hippodrome by night! Not only was Dick hard working, and musically talented, but he was also spiritual. He was an attender of the adult class at the Friend's Meeting House of Lancaster.

Lancaster has a long history with The Religious Society of Friends, or Quaker-ism. The founder of the Quaker movement, George Fox, began his ministry in the north west of England in 1652. Before the year was out he had caused such a fuss within the religious community, that he was brought before the court at Lancaster Castle, under a charge of blasphemy. A Friends' Meeting House was built in Lancaster in 1677. It was rebuilt on the same site, in 1708, and remains there to this day. One of the tenets of the Quaker religion is an opposition to war, and World War I was no different. Generally Quakers resisted conscription, and chose to register as conscientious objectors, but many other young male 'Friends' chose to join up in an effort to end the war quickly. Its possible that Richard was one of the latter.

The Lancaster Friends' Meeting House

Richard signed his papers in July 1916, at the age of 21, and after 5 months of training in the UK he went with his battalion, 1/5th King's Own, to France. By the 27th Aril he was wounded, and sent home to England to recover. He spent time at a hospital in Halifax, for treatment and recovery, and enjoyed some light duties in Prescot, Lancashire for a few weeks, before being sent back to France in August 1917. It was to be his last journey across the English Channel.

There was immense pressure for young men to attest, and sign up, even after the Military Service Act of January 1916, that brought in conscription.  .

Richard and the rest of the 1/5th were sent to participate in what was to become The Battle of Cambrai. The town of Cambrai in the north of France, and close to the border with Belgium, was an important supply centre for the German 'Hindenburg' line. Capturing Cambrai would be crucial to cutting off that supply to the enemy. The success of Cambrai would come to be credited to the role of tanks, as well as a new way of infantry, aircraft, artillery, and calvary working together. The first day of success in this battle caused bells to be rung in churches all across Britain. But as in most battles, the success was short lived, and was returned by the enemy by a fiercer attack which started on the 20th November, through the 30th November, and ended on the 7th December. Liz will tell the rest of Dick's story....

On 14th September, after six weeks rest the 1/5th went straight to the line, moving forward over difficult ground. By the early hours they were in position; the 1/4th was in front on the right of the division, and the 1/5th was behind in the trenches that had been held so long in an earlier battle. The 1/5th did not move from the assembly position until 7am and sustained few casualties. During the next few days the 1/5th pushed out patrols and established posts in shell holes. Four officers and 127 other ranks were lost, 67 were wounded, and six were missing. Some ground was taken. By 1st November the Battalion was camped at Villiers Guislain, and was manning the trenches there. Most days they were shelled. Both British and German aeroplanes were observed in the area. A British 'plane was shot down. There was a gradual build up of hostilities, and by 20th November the action began to accelerate. 30th November 1917 was the thirty ninth day in the trenches for the soldiers, and to give them some comfort, they were allowed to take off their boots the night before, unless they were on guard duty. The 1/5th was in support.

This, the day of Richard's death, started early for the soldiers, and by 7am they were experiencing heavy counter bombardment by the enemy. At 7:15am the Battalion was sent an urgent message from Brigade to 'stand to' (meaning be ready, with arms, for action). The shelling subsided but at 8:30am the enemy were spotted and the Commanding Officer stated that the enemy had passed through the front line and were coming over Villier's Ridge. At 9am several hundred enemy were seen appearing over the ridge to the right of Villiers Guislain, and proceeded to dig in. Rapid fire was opened on them with rifles and Lewis guns, with 'good effect'. Some ground was lost and the fighting continued. The Battalion was reinforced. By 4pm the enemy had gained more ground and British posts were surrounded. The situation remained 'obscure' until 10pm when it was reported that the garrison at Meath Post had been forced to withdraw. "A message was sent by runners and 4 men from D Coy instructing Capt Bennett to cut his way out, unfortunately these men ran into the enemy and 4 were wounded by bombs." Is this when Dick died? Sarah Anne, Dick's mother, always said that he died whilst trying to deliver a message through enemy lines. I cannot describe my feelings when I read this final sentence in the War Diaries for 30th November. Prickles went up and down my spine. Was Dick one of the soldiers referred to in the Diary? I would like to think so, and would also like to think that his final brave action was recorded in this way for me to read eighty two years later.

Richard Holding, 1894 - 1917
Lest We Forget

Richard's body was, like his brother's, never found; lost amidst the chaos of war and ever changing front lines.

Neither Frank, nor Richard's final resting place are known, but they are remembered. Frank's name appears on the Menin Memorial at Ieper (formerly known as Ypres). This memorial is close to the centre of the town centre and is in the form of an arch which crosses the Menin Road. Even today, over 100 years after Frank's death, the road is closed every day at 8pm, when the Last Post is sounded. On the archway there are many panels, each filled with the many names of the fallen and lost. Frank's name can be found on a panel here; just one name of 54,000 in total.

The Menin Gate was unveiled on 24th July 1927.

Richard is remembered at the Cambrai Memorial, which is in Louerval, a small village near Cambrai, France. The memorial itself sits within the Louerval Military Cemetery and takes the shape of a semi-circular wall, where the names of the fallen can be found. The Cambrai Memorial was unveiled on the 4th August 1930, and includes 7048 names in total.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE ENDURING MEMORY OF 7048 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE FORCES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI BETWEEN THE 20TH NOVEMBER AND THE 3RD DECEMBER 1917, WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNES OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

Lest we forget.

#Holding

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