Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Evan Morecott Holder was born on 2nd February 1888, the second son and fifth child son of Frederick William Holder and Julia Maria Stephens of Kooringa in the Burra District. Evan’s father, (later to become Sir William), was twice the Premier of South Australia and was the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. Later the family moved to 50 Sydenham Road, Norwood.

Schooling

In 1897 Evan was at the Sturt Street School and won a prize for attendance. In 1901, when still at the Sturt Street School, Evan passed his Preliminary Examinations and won an Exhibition to all schools. From 1902 to 1904 Evan attended Adelaide High School (Pupil Teacher School), passing Junior Examinations in 1902, Senior Examinations in 1903 and Higher Examinations in 1904. In 1905 Evan transferred to Prince Alfred’s College where he passed his Higher Examinations and appeared on the Special Honours List.

Higher Education

Evan commenced studying for a Bachelor of Science at the Adelaide University in 1906. In addition to passing subjects toward his BSc in 1906, Evan also passed Intermediate Freehand at the Arts Examinations and Building Construction at the School of Mines. Evan’s Bachelor of Science was conferred in December 1909. In 1911 Evan was conferred with a Fellowship in the Department of Mining from the School of Mines. In February 1906 he won a scholarship to the School of Mines. And in December 1913 Evan surrendered his B Sc for Bachelor of Engineering.

Adelaide University Sport

Football – Evan played football for the Adelaide University in the Adelaide and Suburban Association and in a match against Geelong College in 1907. Evan was a member of the Adelaide University 1907 and 1908 Intervarsity Football teams. His younger brother Sydney Ernest Holder was a reserve for the 1908 Intervarsity match.

Tennis– Evan played Tennis for the University from 1907 to at least October 1910. The absence of initials in the newspaper makes it hard to distinguish between Evan and brother, Sydney, who were both at the University from 1908 to 1913. Evan was on the committee of the Adelaide University Lawn Tennis Club in 1909. Evan also competed in the SA Lawn Tennis Association Annual Tournament in March 1907 where he was beaten in the Semi-Finals of the Men’s Doubles Handicap event.


Early Career

After gradation Evan moved to Broken Hill to take up the role of Second Surveyor with the Sulphide Corporation Central Mine.

World War I

Evan enlisted on 15th February 1915. He was described as 5’7”, 140 lbs with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His occupation was listed as Mining Engineer & Surveyor. He embarked on the 31st May 1915. Evan served at Gallipoli and in Egypt, England, Belgium and France. He was promoted to Corporal May 1915, Sergeant in March 191, 2nd Lieutenant on 23rd June 1916 and to Lieutenant on 5th Jan 1917.

Evan returned to Australia on the 21st July 1918. In just over three years of overseas service Evan was hospitalised for 11 months suffering from illnesses including frostbite, trench feet, appendicitis, laryngitis and several bouts of influenza. Evan wrote back to his manager at the Central Mine, describing his experiences at Gallipoli.

Post-World War 1 Career (1918-1931)

In November 1918 it was reported in the Observer that Evan would be in charge of the Sulphide Corporation Limited potash operations at Port Vincent, SA. Three of the four Holder boys were visiting their mother in Adelaide in August 1919. By 1920 Evan was back in Broken Hill and represented the Central Mine at tennis. In December 1920 he was promoted from Honorary Lieutenant to Lieutenant in the Reserve of Officers, 4th Military District (SA and Broken Hill). Evan continued to play tennis and was commemorated on the Sulphide St Church War Memorial.

Evan worked at Central Mine for 12 years and from 1 July 1925 he was the Chief Surveyor for the Zinc Corporation. In late 1930 a new mineral which had been discovered by Evan Holder and M Mawby was named Sturtite after Charles Sturt the explorer and first white man to visit the Broken Hill region. The family were living at No 10 Zinc Corporation Houses.

Family

On the 9th December 1922, Evan married Emma Isobel Dunn, the daughter of Mrs AC Dunn, Broken Hill, at the Wesley Church in Melbourne. Their daughter Isobel Mary was born on 10 September 1923. Their son, James Morecott Holder was born in May 1926.

Career (1931- mid 1950s)

From May 1931 Evan was appointment as Chief Surveyor at the Wiluna Goldfields in the mid-west region of WA. He was involved in setting up the Wiluna Co-operative Stores and in the Wiluna RSL. In 1935 he was described as the Mine Foremen. In 1937 Evan was President of the Wiluna Golf Club and in 1939 he won the Wiluna Bowls Singles handicap event. During the period of WWII Evan continued his work at the Wiluna Gold Mines and in 1944 he was on the committee to organise the Wiluna War Memorial.

From about 1947 Evan was at the Big Bell Mines Ltd, 24 km north-west of Cue, Western Australia. In June 1948 Evan and Isobel were in Melbourne to attend the marriage of their daughter Dr Isobel Mary Holder (Dr Mary Fisher) to Dr Anthony G Fisher of St Peters, SA. Evan was a member of the Big Bell Hospital Board in 1949. Evan was appointed General Manager of the Big Bell Mines Ltd in 1952 and in 1953 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Murchison Magisterial District. The Big Bell Mine was expected to close in the New Year of 1955

Other Highlights

In March 1954 Evan and Isobel met and spoke to the Queen at a garden party held by the Governor in Perth.

Later Life

A newspaper article in December 1954 stated that the Big Bell mine was to close down in the New Year of 1955 and it appears that Evan, then aged 67 may have retired as his 1958 and 1963 entries on the WA Electoral Rolls show him as being resident in the Fremantle Electoral District in Perth.

Death

Evan died on the 3rd of September 1966, aged 78, and his ashes were scattered at the Karrakatta Cemetery, WA. At the time of his death he was residing in Applecross, a riverside suburb in Perth, WA. His wife Emma Isobel Holder died on 16th January 1989, aged 91.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.