Pte 50049 Herbert John Holley

• Age: 32
• From: Wellington, Somerset
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 9th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Herbert John Holley was born on the 30th December 1885 in Wellington, Somerset the son of Abel Holley and his wife Annie Elizabeth (née Thomas) who were married in 1880 in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire. He was baptised on the 24th February 1886 at St John’s Church, Wellington, his father was a Great Western Raily packer of Wellington.  

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 14 Gas Street, Wellington, Somerset. His father, Abel, is aged 35, and is a railway packer, born in Burlescombe, Devon, his mother, Annie, is aged 28, born Sampford Peverell, Devon, There are six children all born in Wellington declared in the household; William 10, at school, Florence R. 8, at school, Herbert J. 5, at school, Ernest 3, Reginald 1 and Elsie M. 3mths.  

His father, Abel died in third quarter of 1897, aged 41. 

The 1901 Census gives the family address as Swaines, Wellington, Somerset. Herbert is now aged 15 and is a telegraph messenger, he lives with his mother, Annie, now shown as a widow and seven siblings; William aged 20 is a woollen weaper, Rose aged 18 is a wollen spinner, Ernest aged 13 is a factory operative in a mill, Reginald is 11, Elsie is 10, Sydney is 6 and Gertrude is 3.     

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 4 Swaines, Wellington, Somerset. His mother, Annie Elizabeth, is a widow aged 48. She had advised that she had been married to Abel for 30 years before being widowed and they had nine children of which one had died. All of the children were born in Wellington, Somerset. Seven children are declared in the household; Florence Rose aged 28, born 1883 is a milk hand labourer, Herbert John aged 25, born 1886 is a postman, Ernest aged 23, born 1888 and Elsie May aged 21, born 1890 are also milk hand labourers in a woollen factory,  William, aged 20, is a woollen weaver, Sydney Albert aged 15, born 1896 is an office boy at a grocer’s and Gertrude Annie aged 13, born 1898 is still at school.    

Herbert enlisted in Wellington, Somerset and was formerly 15706, Royal Army Service Corps and was serving in the 19^th Battalion (B Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50049.

He was reported as wounded in the Western Morning News on the 10th September 1917;

He was killed in action on the 09^th May 1918, aged 32, during the German Spring Offensive.

Herbert's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Probate of Herbert's estate was not dealt with until September 1925 as follows:

HOLLEY Herbert John of Twains, Wellington, Somersetshire, died 9 May 1918 in Belgium. Administration, Taunton 29 September to Annie Elizabeth Holley, widow. Effects £13 0s 1d.  

We currently have no further information on Herbert John Holley, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.