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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Romilly on Thursday 29 March 07 19:28 BST (UK)
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Hi there,
I'm looking for a Death Entry for a WW1 Soldier,
Percy HOLMAN, who was killed in France in (Approx) 1915.
He's listed on the Memorial for the Missing at Thiepval, - but thats all the info that I have:-(
Help Welcomed!
Cheers, Romilly.
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Hi Romilly....
The date on CWGC site give date of death as 15/09/1916
11th bn of Queens Own (Royal West Kent Reg.)
If thats any help to searchers?
Tazzie
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Many thanks for looking Tazzie.
Btw, - what is the CWGC site? (I haven't come across it before).
Cheers, Romilly.
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Hi Romilly
CWGC = Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
It commemorates the 1.7 million from the commonwealth who have died whilst serving in the forces for the two world wars. It also lists civilian deaths as well. Have a look ....
www.cwgc.org
then search our records.
There are 2 Percy Edgar Holmans on there.
Tazzie
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Thanks for the Link Tazzie, - a fascinating site!
I'm attaching a pic taken of the Main Thiepval Memorial to the Missing when we visited there last summer, - the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Best Wishes, Romilly.
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Percy Edgar Holman Private G8270
born Dalston SE London
enlisted Lewisham SE London
resided Catford
KIA 15-9-1916
(excellent photo!)
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Many thanks for the info Harribobs.
Cheers, Romilly.
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Hi Again,
I am now searching for another WW1 Death, - for an Australian soldier called (Surname) McGowan, who was killed in France between Oct/Nov 1918 - 1919.
Any help appreciated!
Cheers, Romilly.
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Hi Romilly
Do you have a christian name for him, there are 16 McGowan's on CWGC.
Maddie
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Hi Romilly
Do you have a christian name for him, there are 16 McGowan's on CWGC.
Maddie
Hi Maddie,
Thanks for your interest. I will have to check with my husband later, - this is on his side of the family!!
Best Wishes, Romilly.
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Hi Romilly.
Re: Holman
11th (Service) Battalion (Lewisham)Queens Own Royal West Kent's. Formed at Lewisham on 5 May 1915, by the Mayor R Jackson, and a local Committee. July 1915 : attached to 118th Brigade, 39th Division. October 1915 : transferred to 122nd Brigade, 41st Division. Some experienced regulars were either transferred into the unit or brought out of retirement and by mid November the Battalion was at full strength. There were some changes in command before the Battalion went overseas in May 1916 led by Lieutenant Colonel AF Townshend (formerly of the Scottish Rifles) with Major AC Corfe 2nd in command. They blooded their swords in some minor actions in the Ypres / Armentieres area before moving down to the Somme area in August / September. They were involved in one of the first tank attacks at Flers September 15/16 and lost 443 men including Townshend who was killed.
Alan
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Hi Alan,
Many thanks for the information.
We were able to visit some of those places during our stay in France last summer, and found Percy Holman's name on the main Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval. The Battlefields of the Somme in particular are very atmospheric, and it is sobering indeed to see all the gravestones for so many young men, - many of them still in their teens.
(See attached pic).
Romilly.
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I am now searching for another WW1 Death, - for an Australian soldier called (Surname) McGowan, who was killed in France between Oct/Nov 1918 - 1919.
which memorial was his name on?
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Percy Holman's name was on the main Memorial at Thiepval, - the Lutyens one shown in the first pic that I posted on here Harribobs. (I have a close-up pic of his name on it somewhere).
We couldn't find a definate match for our Australian McGowan.
Cheers, Romilly.
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ah right, i thought you'd found the name on an aussie memorial
right! start a new thread with his name and the aussie bit in the title
the aussie records are very good and i'm sure someone will point you to his ;)
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Will do!!
Many thanks for the help, - much appreciated.
Romilly.
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Romilly,
You may find this site of interest for your Australian.
http://www.naa.gov.au/The_Collection/defence/conflicts/ww1/ww1.html
Jebber
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Many Thanks Jebber,
I haven't come across that Site before, - I will take a look!
Romilly.
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Further to my last posts...
It now appears that the Percy Holman who died at The Somme in 1916 and is commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial, is not the relative that I was searching for. That one, (on the Memorial) was Percy Edgar Holman.
Percy Claud Holman was born in the Jan/Feb/March Q of 1889 in Chard, Somerset. He married Maud Elizabeth Lavington on the 29th May 1915 in Walworth, London. He was killed at Gallipoli on the 8th August 1915. He too is commemorated on the GWG Site and on the War Memorial in Crewkerne, Somerset.
This is from the CWG site:
HOLMAN, P
Rank:
Private
Service No:
10538
Date of Death:
08/08/1915
Regiment/Service:
Dorsetshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Grave Reference
I. C. 23.
Cemetery
AZMAK CEMETERY, SUVLA. (See Attached photo).
The Australian soldier that I was looking for was Joseph Henry McGowen, who served in France with the AIF during WW1. His Service Record is on the Australian Government Archives Site. I now know that he survived WW1 and returned to Sydney, NSW in 1919.
Many Thanks to all who helped on here.
Cheers, Romilly.