Corporal William Frederick Houlding
| Date of Birth | c. 1886 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 30 |
| Date of Death | 9 April 1917 |
| Service Number | 62144 |
| Military Service | 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers |
| Merton Address | Ravensbury Road |
| Local Memorial | St. Luke's Church, Wimbledon |
Additional Information
On the tablet in St Luke’s Church commemorating the war dead, there is an inscription to W F Holding, a Corporal in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Research indicated that this should be W F Houlding who was a Corporal in this Battalion and lived a short walk from the Church.
William Frederick Houlding was born in Battersea and baptised in St Augustine Church, South Hackney, on 8 December 1886, along with his two brothers, George Edward and Thomas Henry. His parents were George Anthony Houlding, a Factory Caretaker who died in 1904 and Mary Lydia (known as Lydia) Houlding (nee Bren). They also had two daughters Lydia and Emily who were born in 1887 and 1889.
At the 1901 census, William was still living at home with his parents in Battersea. He married Jane (Jenny) Coneybeare on 24 November 1907 in St Andrew’s Church, Earlsfield and they were living at 150 Ravensbury Road, Earlsfield by the 1911 census. They had three children, William John, Doris and Elsie.
William Frederick enlisted in Chelsea and joined the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on 9 April 1917 and is buried in Tillroy British Cemetery. The inscription on his gravestone reads “The cup was bitter, the blow severe, to part with him we held so dear.” His wife’s address at his death was given as 154A Ravensbury Road.