Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Colonel Richard Charles Frederick Holman DSO DSM MID

Richard Charles Frederick Holman (1861-1933), soldier, was born on 26 September 1861 at Broadway, Dorsetshire, England, son of Frederick Holman, pharmacist, and his wife Louisa Thomson, née Puckett. Educated at King's College, London, he enlisted in the ranks of the British Army and served with the 1st Mounted Rifles in the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-85. He came to Australia soon afterwards and served with the New South Wales Police Force in 1886-88. On 23 June 1890 Holman was granted warrant rank in the New South Wales Permanent Mounted Infantry. In 1897 he spent several months in the United Kingdom on attachment to the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards. He also attended Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations as a member of the New South Wales military detachment.

Holman served with distinction in the South African War. On 3 November 1899 he embarked as regimental sergeant major with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles. He took part in Lord Roberts's great drive into the Boer republics in February-June 1900, and then in other operations in western Transvaal before leaving for home with his unit in December 1900. For his gallantry in the field, he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After only two months in Australia he embarked again for the front as lieutenant and adjutant with the 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles. He arrived in Cape Town in April 1901 and his unit spent the remaining thirteen months of the war in sporadic operations against Boer guerrilla forces. His military efficiency during this period earned him promotion to captain and award of the Distinguished Service Order.

After returning from South Africa, Holman reverted to his pre-war rank of warrant officer and served as such with the Commonwealth Military Forces until he was commissioned as lieutenant, Administrative and Instructional Staff, on 1 January 1905. He was promoted captain on 26 September 1906 and major on 1 October 1911. He visited Canada as an exchange officer in 1912-13. Holman was brigade major with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade from December 1913 to September 1916 when he relinquished the post to take command of the Liverpool Concentration Camp, New South Wales, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Liverpool was the main internment centre in Australia for enemy aliens, and internees numbered over 5000 when Holman assumed a command which he carried out with competence and compassion until his retirement on 4 February 1920 with the honorary rank of colonel.

Holman had married Harriette Blanche Mills at St Mary's Anglican Church, Balmain, Sydney, on 10 December 1890. They had three daughters and a son Richard Dudley, who served with the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli and in France as a commissioned officer and was twice wounded. Survived by his wife and children, Holman died of cancer on 13 December 1933 at Ingleburn, and was buried in the Anglican section of Denham Court cemetery, Ingleburn.

Reference - Biography - Richard Charles Frederick Holman - Australian Dictionary of Biography (anu.edu.au)

Obituary –

“Death of a Veteran of Many Wars, The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 14 December 1933, Page 6”

“Lieutenant Colonel Richard Charles Holman DSO, died yesterday at his residence, Denham Court, Ingleburn, aged 72.

The late Lieutenant Colonel Holman, who was a professional soldier was an officer in the old NSW Mounted Rifles, founded in 1889. In the same regiment was a non-commissioned officer named W.H. Childs.

As a junior officer Col Holman went to the South African War, and returned with the DSO, later serving in the Bechuanaland campaign.

The “non-com” named Childs joined the police, and is now Commissioner. He and Colonel Holman were friends for over 40 years.

During the Great War Colonel Holman was an instructor to officers and later commandant of the concentration camp at Holsworthy.

He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Mesdames Bull and Osterman.

The funeral will leave his late home at 3 pm today for the Church of England Cemetery, Denham Court.”

Newspaper article of interest –

“Warrant Officer Holman, Evening News, Wednesday 1st of November 1899, Page 4” –

“Warrant Officer Richard Charles Holman, of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, was born at Greymouth, Dorsetshire England, He is about 38 years of age, and first joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was afterwards transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles and served in the Bechuanaland expedition, under Sir Charles Warren (medal and mentioned in dispatches). Mr Holman arrived in New South Wales in 1886 and on the formation of the Permanent Mounted Infantry in 1888, he received an appointment as quarter master sergeant. Afterwards, he was promoted to warrant (in 1896) and received his present appointment. Mr Holman is one of the strictest warrant officers on the staff: but is, nevertheless, thought a great deal of by both officers and men. In 1897, he was selected as the warrant officer in charge of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles detachment for England, in connection with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Mr Holman also goes by the Aberdeen to the Transvaal

Courtesy of Samual Cox