Pte 29950 John Holt

• Age: 18
• From: Darwen, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: VII.J.5

John Holt was born in the fourth quarter of 1897 in Darwen, Lancashire the only son of John Holt and his wife Mary Ann (nee Pickering). His parents married at All Saints Church in Clayton le Moors in 1892 and had three children. Their first child, Richard Edmund (named after both of his grandfathers), was born in 1894 but sadly died at age 4.  John had a younger sister Alice. He was baptised on 26th December 1897 in St. James' Church, Over Darwen. At the time of his baptism his parents were living at 56 London Terrace, and his father's occupation was given as joiner.

The 3 year old John lived with his mother and father at 30 Victor Street, Clayton le Moors at the time of the 1901 Census. His father John was aged 30, born in Clayton, and working as a carpenter, his mother Mary Ann also aged 30,  born in Darwen, was a cotton weaver.

John senior died in 1907 aged only 36 when John was 9.

His mother Mary Ann remarried to widower George Dobson in October 1908, at All Saints Church.

In the 1911 census the whole family were living at 5 Albert Street, Clayton-le-Moors. George Dobson is aged 40, a firebeater at the East Lancashire Soap factory, and since their marriage Mary Ann has had a son called Albert. John Holt is living with his mother and stepfather as is his sister Alice who is 9. Living there too are George’s children Clara aged 18 who is a weaver, and George aged 14 who is a reacher in a cotton mill. The 13 year old John is at school, but working part time as a reacher too, which is a job in a cotton mill assisting the drawer arranging the bobbins to form the pattern of threads.

Another daughter Sarah Ellen was born shortly after the census. 

His stepfather George died, aged 44, in 1914. 

John enlisted in Accrington. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, John volunteered in about June 1915 when he was 17 years old, having to lie about his age in order to serve overseas, and went to France in 1916.

The Accrington Observer on 16th October 1915 published a list of names of men from from Clayton who had enlisted: 

FULL OFFICIAL LIST OF NAMES. 

We are able to publish to-day a roll of honour of men from Clayton-le-Moors who are serving in His Majesty’s Forces. The list has been compiled by Mr. Dodgeon, Clerk to the District Council, who has devoted much time and labour to the task. The list contains the names of 670 Claytonians who have actually joined the forces from Clayton. This number is exclusive of men who, for instance, have joined Canadian or Australian forces, such as the following :— 

John Holt, 5, Albert-st., 3rd King’s Liverpool.  

He was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 29950 when he was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 18, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

John was originally posted as Missing. His death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

He was buried close to where he fell as a "British Soldier".  After the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed by No.3 Labour Company, and identified. His body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

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