Poppy Private Albert Holland Poppy

 

 

Albert Holland was born on 1 May 1891 at Ballydugan, Waringstown, County Down, the third of five children of weaver (later cattle dealer then labourer) John Holland and his wife Martha (née Boyce). His mother died when he was just four years old. His father re-married the following year, and again in 1909. By the time of the 1911 Census Albert was living at nearby Annaghanoon, and working as a gardener and domestic servant at the home of Susan Whaley and her family.

Holland enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1908 and March 1911 (regimental number unknown). He left the regiment at some point prior to the outbreak of war in August 1914, probably at the expiration of his four-year period of service.

By mid-1912 Holland was living in Belfast, at 17 Lawther Street, and working as a labourer. On 26 June that year he married Eveline McCann at St Anne's Church of Ireland Parish Church. The couple moved to Moyraverty, near Lurgan, and had two children over the next three years.

Holland enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers in September 1914 (No.14310). He was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion and embarked for France on 4 October 1915.

On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Holland was part of a bombing team in the 9th Battalion's attack towards Beaucourt Station on the north of the Ancre. He was one of the many killed in action that day.

Having no known grave, Holland is commemorated on Pier 15 Face A of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

 

 

Images kindly provided by Steve Rogers, Project Co-ordinator of the The War Graves Photographic Project, www.twgpp.org.