Eli Holland
- Family History
- Military History
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Eli was born in 1885 in Blackwell, Derbyshire and was the son of George, a coal miner and Margaret Holland. His father George a native of Belper, Derbyshire, born 1857 and his mother Margaret from Fermay, County Cork, born 1864 . They were married in Margarets home town of Fermay in 1885 but made Huthwaite their family home living on Blackwell Road. They had a very large family, having a total of 12 children, however sadly 5 of these children were to die in infancy before 1911. Some of his siblings were William b1881 Cork, Eli b1886 Blackwell, Cloe b1889 Skegby, and Rowland b1894 Skegby In the 1901 census Eli has left home , he is 17 yrs of age , single and is working as a pony driver , underground in a colliery, he is lodging with Joseph Willmott also a coal miner and his family at 29 Ward Street, Rotherham By the 1911 census his parents and siblings are living at Club Yard Huthwaite Nottinghamshire. this later census shows George 54 yrs a coal miner hewer living with his wife Margaret 47 yrs and their two sons Rowland 17 yrs a brick makers labourer and Luke 15 yrs a pony driver at the colliery. In the same 1911 census , Eli is living at Miners Arms Yard, Stoneford Lane, Sutton in Ashfield , he is shown as head of the household , an asphalt labourer , 27 years , single born at Blackwell. The only other person living at the addressis Elizabeth Wilkes , 27 years , born Lower Dudley, Staffordshire, she is also single and her occupation is that of servant. They went on to get married in the Mansfield Registration district that same year and they went on to have two sons Eli and John G Holland. Following Eli's death his widow Elizabeth married Thomas Wallace in 1920 and they lived at 5 George Street Huthwaite.
Eli had seen previous service with the army , serving with service number 20563 in the Cheshire Regiment and later with service number 31058 in the South Wales Borders. He must have been placed in the reserves as by November 1914 he had re enlisted at Mansfield and served this time with the 1st battalion Monmouthshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 8th October 1918 whilst attacking an enemy trench and is buried in Sequehart British Cemetery No.1.
Free Press – 22nd November, 1918. Corporal E. Holland (Mrs Holland), 5, George Street, Huthwaite, has received news that her husband, Corporal Eli Holland, was killed in action on October 8th. He enlisted in November, 1914, and was with the Monmouths. Formerly he worked for Mr. George Warner, Sutton. Mrs. Holland, who is left with two children, has received the following letter:- "In answer to your letter I regret to inform you that your husband was killed in action on October 8th. The Company were attacking an important trench near a village when your husband was hit by a German machine gun bullet and died instantaneously. He has been buried in the village near the church, and a cross with his name has been erected on his grave. Your husband always did his duty well, and he is very much missed by all his comrades. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sorrow."
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