12 April 1917: L/Cpl. William Holland

Born 3 September 1885, Bombay Presidency

1893 map of the Bombay Presidency including Aden Province and Socotra.

Parents Henry and Hannah (née Jopp) of 27 Eaton Rise, Ealing. Grandson of General H W Holland.

Educated at Tonbridge.

High Holborn, Birkbeck/Westminster Bank C1910

Employed on the staff of the London County & Westminster Bank and subsequently on the staff of the National Bank of South Africa.

A soldiers of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment c.1910

In September 1911 he left banking and joined the Transvaal Scottish Regiment in Johannesburg.

William served in German South West Africa as Sergeant after the outbreak of war.

He transferred to the 9th South African Infantry and was sent to East Africa and was appointed Instructor in charge of the depot at Potchefstroom.

Officers' Mess Bordon Camp

He returned home to England and joined the South African Scottish Regiment at Bordon Camp in October 1916.

Battle of Vimy Ridge. British cavalry riding through Arras, 11 April 1917. © IWM (Q 2825)© IWM (Q 2825)In 1917 the South African Scottish Regiment took part in the Battle of Arras during which L/Cpl Holland was killed. He was 32. 

L/CPpl. William Lennox Farquharson Holland South African Scottish, 4th South African Infantry

12 April 1917 

Source: De Ruvigny’s Vol. iii