Private HT Holley

Born in Lambeth in 1878. Henry was the middle child of Charles and Isabella Holley. He had at least three siblings, including an older brother and sister, Charles and Ellen, plus a younger sister, Alice. His father worked as a painter. During his early childhood, Henry and his family were living at South Street, Lambeth, together with his widowed maternal grandmother, Priscilla Whittaker.

Little is known of Charles’s early life but records show that on 27 August, 1899, he married Elizabeth French at St. John’s Church in Newington. She was employed as a mantle maker, producing specially fire-proofed shades for the gas lamps used in most contemporary homes. The couple moved to 11 Walnut Tree Walk, a two room house in Lambeth. The property must quickly have become overcrowded as the couple had 7 children: Elizabeth, Henry (Jr), Joy, Rose, Alfred, Robert, and George.

Henry was now working as a painter to support his growing brood. He enlisted for military service on 22 June, 1915, by which time he was living at 10 Carl Place, Lambeth. Henry was described at the time as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. He became a private in the 35th company, Royal Army Medical Corps and was sent to France in November 1915. During the conflict the RAMC ran army medical units and provided medical detachments for the infantry, the artillery and other sections of the army. The Corps was assisted in its work by voluntary help from the British Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance, the Friends Ambulance Unit, the Voluntary Aid Detachments and hundreds of private and charitable ventures.

Fairly early into his military service, Albert began displaying symptoms of tuberculosis, brought on by the dampness and exposure in the trenches of the Western Front. He lost over a stone in weight and his health deteriorated to the point that he was declared unfit for further war service on 11 August, 1916. He was sent for treatment at a sanatorium and after being discharged, he moved to the Mitcham / Streatham boundary, settling in Greyhound Terrace with his family.

Albert’s health never fully recovered. He had frequent stays at various area hospitals and finally died from TB on 20 December, 1917. He is buried at Streatham Park Cemetery in Rowan Road, Mitcham.