Pte 22413 Thomas Holding

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 9th Kings
• Died on Wednesday 3rd July 1918
• Commemorated at: Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension
  Panel Ref: I.N.20

Thomas Holding was born on 20th October 1894, and baptised in St. Peter’s on 3^rd January 1895.  His parents were then living in Priory Grove.  He was the eighth of fourteen children born to Thomas Holding and Catherine (nee Horne), who married on 2^nd October 1882 in the same church.  They give their address as Great Homer Street, and Thomas’ occupation as bricklayer.  His father was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool, and his mother (Kate) in Sandbach, Cheshire.  All of their children, unusually for the time, survived.  Thomas’ siblings were Sarah, Harry, Caroline, Ellen, Catherine, Elizabeth, George, Samuel, Robert, Florence, William, Edward, and Edith. 

In 1901 the large family is living at 113 Claudia Street, Walton.  His father is a bricklayer. There are ten children in the home, ranging in age from 1 to 17. Thomas is 5.

In 1911 the family is living in five rooms at 38 Gwladys Street, Walton.  His father is a bricksetter.  Thomas is 17, employed as a shop lad.  All 14 children are listed, but four are crossed off as not being resident in the household.    ­­­

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool on 11^th November 1914, as Private 22413, 20^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 20 years and one month, and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 3 and a half inches tall, weighing 109 lbs, with grey eyes and light brown hair.  He gives his next of kin as his father, Thomas, at 38 Gwladys Street, which is later crossed out and replaced with the name of his mother Catherine, at 12 Dallas Grove, Aintree, Liverpool. 

Whilst training at Knowsley on 4^th April 1915, Thomas forfeited 2 days’ pay for being absent from tattoo at 10.30 p.m. until the following night.  The Battalion moved to Grantham in Lincolnshire for further training at Belton Park (while there, Thomas’ father died in July 1915), then to Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain before shipping out to France. Whilst at Larkhill, on 6^th October 1915 Thomas was confined to barracks (C.B.) for 3 days for refusing to obey an order and again on 3^rd November, C.B. for 7 days for insubordinate conduct.

Thomas shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7^th November 1915.  During the bombardment prior to the Battle of the Somme, on 27^th June 1916, Thomas was wounded in action and shell shocked, admitted to 13^th Casualty Clearing Post, then to 12^th General Hospital, Rouen on 29^th June with shell shock; the next day he was evacuated to England on the Hospital Ship “Aberdonian”. He was admitted to hospital on 2^nd July, diagnosed with shell shock. The medical report states: “Nervous, with pains at back of head after shell explosion. Slight tremors.  Now sent to furlough, being well. (Class C).”  Thomas was discharged from hospital on 15^th July 1916, and  appears to have remained in the U.K. for the next twelve months, perhaps needing further recuperation time, but also perhaps, in view of his disciplinary record, needing more training to become an efficient soldier.

Whilst back at Knowsley Park, on 27^th December 1916, Thomas was confined to barracks for 7 days and forfeited 3 days’ pay for being absent without leave for 3 days  (the dates suggest he took a Christmas holiday!).  There were more disciplinary infractions at other training camps -

26/3/1917  Absent from parade, C.B. 3 days

7/5/1917  Overstaying leave, C.B. 2 days

6/6/1917  Overstaying leave 3 days, C.B. 7 days, forfeits 3 days’ pay

25/6/1917  Absent from night operations, C.B. 3 days

7/7/1917  Overstaying draft & leave 72 hours,  C.B. 14 days, forfeits 4 days’ pay

On 18^th July 1917 Thomas returned to France.  He was posted to 1^st coy 13^th Bn K.L.R. from 24 Infantry Brigade Depot at Etaples and joined his unit in the field on 9^th August 1917.  The 13^th battalion at that time was in support at Lagnicourt (between Bapaume and Cambrai). Alternating between front line duty and support, the battalion moved to Brandhoek and Vlamertinghe, Flanders. 

On 31^st January 1918 Thomas was posted to 1^st Company, 9^th Bn K.L.R. and joined the unit in the field on 2^nd February.  The battalion was then at Steenwercke and on the 9^th January moved to Armentieres.  Then, having moved to Henu, on 28^th April 1918 Thomas was placed in confinement awaiting trial.  On  2^nd May 1918 he was court martialed (tried by Field General Court Martial, one of only two types of court martial invested with the authority to sanction the death penalty).  Charge: Using insubordinate language to his superior officer.  Finding: Guilty.  Punishment: 28 days Field Punishment No.2 (i.e., fettered and/or handcuffed, and subject to hard labour).

Having completed his sentence, by the end of June the battalion  was in the Gommecourt sector.  His service record states Thomas was “wounded in action” on 1^st July 1918, but an investigation was carried out (required of any accidental or self-inflicted injury).  The wound is described as, “Penetrating bullet wound right lung at about 3^rd intercostal space. Small wound entry in front about 2 and a half inches to right of sternum.  Larger exit wound over right scapula.”   The circumstances of the wound, “During a strafe on a forward listening post this man was proceeding with an off. to find out (?) and L/Cpl Birley challenged them and not hearing reply, fired, wounding Holding.”  Findings: The Commanding Officer’s opinion was that the injury was received in the performance of military duty, and that no-one was to blame.

Pte Thomas Holding died of his wounds on 3^rd July 1918 at 3^rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, aged 23.  He had been in the Army 3 years and 235 days.  

Thomas now rests at Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. 

The COMMUNAL CEMETERY at Gezaincourt contains nine Commonwealth burials of the First World War, made between October 1915 and March 1916 The adjoining EXTENSION was opened in March 1916 and used until March 1917, and again from March to October 1918. In most cases, the burials were carried out from casualty clearing stations and, in June to August 1918, from the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital. The extension contains 596 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 3 of which are unidentified, and a plot of 76 German graves. There are also six Second World War burials, all dating from the early months of the war before the German advance. The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Thomas’ death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 19^th July 1918 under the heading:

 “A Walton Private: Private Thomas Holding, K.L.R., son of Mrs. Holding, 38 Gwladys St., Walton, died of wounds aged 23.  Was formerly employed at Brown’s Wireworks, Bootle.  Sadly missed by mother, sisters and brothers (on active service).”

In the Liverpool Echo on 25^th July 1918:

 “July 3, died of wounds in Canadian Hospital, Private Thomas Holding.  His duty called him, he was there, To do his bit and take his share. His heart was good, his spirit brave, He is resting in a hero’s grave.”  Sadly missed by his loving Mother, Brothers, Sisters, 38 Gwladys Street, Walton. (Rest in peace)” 

His personal effects were sent to his mother, still at 38 Gwladys Street, on 23^rd November 1918 – 2 identity discs, 1 letter, photographs, 1 pipe, 1 comb, 1 pair nail clippers, buttons, cards, cigarette case.  She signed for his medals “with many thanks” on 22^nd June 1920 and 13^th November 1921. 

His brother Robert, Pte 242896,  11^th K.L.R.,  Died of Wounds on 5^th April 1918, and now lies in Namps-au-Val British Cemetery, Somme.  He was 21.

His brother George enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery (Reserve) in April 1915, but deserted (in the U.K.) two months later after his baby daughter died. 

Thomas and Robert are both commemorated Liverpool Hall of Remembrance, Panel 59.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Holding. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.