HOLT, Harold John
| Service Number: | 2289 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 13 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Whitemark, Flinders, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 2 October 1964, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Carr Villa Memorial Park, Tasmania |
| Memorials: | Flinders Island Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 20 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2289, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2289, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2289, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ajana, Melbourne | |
| 25 Jan 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Camel Corps | |
| 20 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 5th Division Artillery | |
| 15 Jun 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 15th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 9 Jul 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 25th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 14th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 10 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Gunner, 2289, 14th Field Artillery Brigade |
Help us honour Harold John Holt's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Maureen Cawe, Aussies & Kiwis for ANZACs
Meet our pop Harold John Holt, B.feb 1893 Flinders island Tasmania, to William(English) and Ellen(Aboriginal) married 52yrs. Harold was number 9 of 13 children. He enlisted in the AIF on 20th May 1915. 6th reinforcements-15th battalion aged 22.
Embarked for Gallipoli on HMAT Ajana just 2 weeks later arriving Anzac cove 2 aug. He was moved around a great deal, spent some time in the light horse, camel Corp, was involved in attacks on hill 971 and 60.(15th. 4th. Infantry Battalions.) and apparently the shooting down of the Red Barron.
His cousin George was KIA in oct 1917 at Zonnebeke Belgium. (he is buried in Belgium).
Pop went AWOL in May 1918 maybe to meet up with his new Scottish lass Bessie (Elizabeth Smith Creedican), (he lost 2 weeks pay) they married on the 1st of March 1919 in Edinburg Scotland, pic below, and returned to flinders island in September on SS Prince Ludwig. They had 5 children (a well used AWOL).
MEDALS pictured below the large one is a commemorative 50th anniversary medal. The small one may have been worn on his hat or lapel, Booklet, was the last Anzac Day March he attended 1968, don’t think he ever missed one, as he passed in 2 October 1968.
I have copies of all his war history, very interesting to read about all the places he was sent to Egypt, Turkey, France and a few more. for someone who was away fighting for over 3 years, as far as I know he never had any very serious injuries. Except towards the end, we now believe he had PTSD. RIP POP. 🌹🌹🇦🇺🇦🇺
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