Pte 49202 Harry (Henry) Holding

• Age: 29
• From: Accrington, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 9th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Lijssenthoek M C Poperinghe
  Panel Ref: XV.I.17

 

 

Henry (Harry) was born on the 04th October 1887 in Accrington and was the son of George Holding and his wife Lucy (née Connors) who were married (as Holden) on the 07th February 1878 at Sacred Heart Church, Accrington. 

Harry was baptised on the 09th October 1887, also at Sacred Heart Church, Accrington, Lancashire.

The 1891 Census finds 3 year old Henry living at Lower Antley Street with his parents and siblings. His father George is a 36 year old house slater and flagger born in Accrington. His mother Lucy is shown to have been born in 1857 in Liverpool although on the 1901 Census it shows Oswaldtwistle. His siblings are; Elizabeth b 1879, William b.1880, James b. 1882, George b. 1885 and John b.1890.

By 1901 the family have moved to 57 Elizabeth Street, Accrington. Henry is now aged 13 and is employed as a labourer at a print works. His father, George, is a 43 year old flagger and slater, his mother, Lucy, is aged 43, born in Oswaldtwistle. His siblings born Accrington are; Elizabeth 21, a cotton weaver, William 20, a flagger, James 18, an apprentice stone mason, George 15, an apprentice boiler maker, John 11, Thomas 9, Robert 7, Lucy 5 and Arthur 1. 

Harry married Georgina Monaghan on the 14th May 1910 in Accrington, and their daughter Margaret was born later on in the year.  

On the 1911 Census Henry, aged 23, and Georgina, aged 21, are boarding at 22 Meadow Street, Accrington with their 7 month old daughter Maggie. The head of the household is William Holding who is most probably Harry's brother. His parents and family have moved to 1 Buxton Street, Accrington. 

Prior to enlisting he was employed by Howard & Bullough, a firm of textile machine manufacturers. 

His service papers have not survived but we know that he enlisted around June 1916, in Preston as Private 27767 in the East Lancashire Regiment and was serving in the 20th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment as Private 49202 when he died of wounds on the 09th June 1917, aged 29.

He now rests at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium whre his headstone bears the epitaph:

"ON WHOSE SOUL SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY".

During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.

From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places.

The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 being unidentified. There are 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German, 11 of these are unidentified. There is 1 Non World War burial here.

The only concentration burials were 24 added to Plot XXXI in 1920 from isolated positions near Poperinghe and 17 added to Plot XXXII from St. Denijs Churchyard in 1981.

Eight of the headstones are Special Memorials to men known to be buried in this cemetery, these are located together alongside Plot 32 near the Stone of Remembrance.

The cemetery, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium.

Harry is also commemorated on the Accrington War Memorial.

Soldiers Effects states he died at 2/Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and his effects were sent to his daughter Margaret (widow address unknown) and pension to daughter Margaret, daughter/widow(?) Henrietta Ashworth

Harry's loss was one of three that the family suffered as two of his brothers also fell.

Private James Holding 17957 of the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment died on the 06th July 1916. He rests at Accrington Cemetery. 
,
Private William Holding 56522 of the 1st Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, died 21st January 1917. He now rests at Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension.

Anewspaper report shows that all three brothers were lost:

Accrington Observer and Times on Saturday 23 June 1917;

THREE SONS KILLED.

ACCRINGTON FAMILY'S HEAVY LOSS.

Three of the eight sons of Mr. and Mrs. George Holding, of 1, Buxton-street, responded to their country's call and all have made the supreme sacrifice. The eldest, Pte. William Holding, was killed in February last, his brother James, a private in the "Pals" battalion, died from wounds received on the memorable 1st July, his remains being subsequently interred in Accrington cemetery, and now the sad news he been received of the loss of the third son Pte. Harry Holding. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Holding, only two were daughters, and it is a melancholy circumstance that the three sons who joined the army have all fallen in action. The other sons are engaged in various occupations of national importance.

Pte. Harry Holding was 29 years of age, married, and had one child. Formerly he was employed as a grinder at Howard an Bullough's, but about the time when the war broke out removed, for health reasons, to Barrow. Enlisting in the East Lancashire Regiment some twelve months ago, he was afterwards transferred to the King's Liverpools, the same regiment to which his brother William belonged. His career in the fighting line in France had been very eventful. On three occasions he had gone “over the top” but good fortune had always attended him until a fortnight ago, and his letters home were characterised by a fine spirit of courage and cheerfulness. On Thursday week a field postcard was received by his relatives that he had been wounded and later an official message reached them to the effect that he had died from his wounds in a Canadian clearing station on June 9th. Nothing is known as how the wounds were received. Private Holding was connected with the Church of the Sacred Heart and in his former days was a member of the choir. He was a tenor singer of some repute, and his fondness for recreation and sporting activities made him a very pleasant companion.

In same edition:-

“Some families seem fated to have more than their fair share of the sorrow and sadness that this terrible war leaves everywhere in its train. Today the “Observer” records the death from wounds of the third member of an Accrington family and sympathy will go out to Mr and Mrs Geo. Holding, of Buxton Street, in the loss of three of their sons. The eldest, Private Wm. holding was killed in February last, his brother James, a member of the “Pals” Battalion, died from wounds received on July 1st, and the third, Private Harry Holding has now died from wounds received in recent fighting. The weeks list of local casualties is again a fairly heavy one, and with all those who mourned the loss of dear ones, widespread sympathy will be felt.”

Soldiers Effects states he died at 2/Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.

We currently have no further information on Henry (Harry) Holding. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.