HOLDEN, James
| Service Numbers: | 1162, 1144 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 September 1914, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Edinburgh, Scotland, 13 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sidcol Quaker School, England |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 6 August 1915, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 14, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1162, 1st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1144, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1144, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 1162, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1162 awm_unit: 1 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1915-08-06 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Arrived in Australia aged 19 years. While living in England and when in Australia he was farming until being employed with the Tramways where he remained until enlisting
Son of George Boyne Holden and Miriam Holden of 14 Valley Bridge Road, Scarborough, England. Brother of Charles Holden who returned to Australia on 2 September 1916 having served with the 7th Light Horse Regiment
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
He was reported as being a good shot having won prizes in competitions
Biography contributed by John Oakes
James HOLDEN was born on 13th December 1889 at Edinburgh in Scotland. He went to Sidcol (Quaker) School in England and migrated to Australia when he was aged 19. After working on the land near Sydney for a few years he joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a tram conductor (casual) in Sydney on 11th December 1911. His position was made permanent on 15th September 1912 but he later resigned, with effect from 29th April 1913. However, on 16th January 1914 he re-joined as a tram conductor in Sydney. On 9th September 1914 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces.
His Attestation Paper shows his date of joining the AIF as 23rd September 1914. He joined with the rank of Private (Service Number 1162). He was posted to the 1st Infantry Battalion. He nominated his mother, Mrs G B Holden of Scarborough, England, as his next of kin.
The 1st Infantry Battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914. This Battalion embarked for Egypt two months later. It arrived in Egypt on 2nd December 1914. It embarked in April 1915 for the Gallipoli Campaign. The Battalion took part in the landings at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. It continued to serve there until the evacuation in December 1915. Its most notable engagement was the battle of Lone Pine in August 1915.
Between 6th and 9th August 1915, during the Battle of Lone Pine, James was reported as wounded and missing in action. A subsequent Court of Enquiry confirmed he had been killed in action on, or about, 6th August 1915.
As his body was never found, James is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Sydney.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.