Name
John Holland (MM)
27 May 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/06/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266592
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARPENDEN (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD
O. O. 37.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
PEACE PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial,
Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford,
Not on the Wheathampstead memorials
Pre War
John Albert was born in Wheathampstead, Harpenden on 27 May 1895. He was the third son of John Holland, a farm labourer, and Lizzie (nee Slough). There would be 12 children in the Family. He was educated at St Nicholas Church School.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at Ivydene (no 8?) and John was working in a Rubber Factory. He also worked for Watson, the bootmaker.
Wartime Service
John enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment as private 266952 He was awarded the Military Medal.
The Hertfordshires were the subject of a fierce gas shell attack on 11 May 1918 when moving forward through the village of Fonquevillers. The majority of the unit had to be evacuated leaving only 1 Officer and 7 Others Ranks standing . After withdrawing on relief the Unit was reinforced by a draft of men and also by absorbing 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.
It is likely that John was one of those injured in this attack being to hospital in Reading where he died on I Jun1918.
Additional Information
Miss M Holland, 8 Coleswood Road, Harpenden, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "PEACE PERFECT PEACE".
The photograph is believed to be of John Holland, but titled F J Holland in the paper.
Miss M Holland, 8 Coleswood Road, Harpenden, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: “PEACE PERFECT PEACE”.
War Gratuity of £13 10s and arrears of £16 8 s 4d paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
