James Holwell
- Family History
- Military History
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James Holwell was born in 1891 at Balderton and was the son of John a plaster mill labourer and Sarah Howell née Sharpe of 182 Barnby Gate Newark. His father was born in 1849 at Orston and his mother Sarah Sharpe was born in 1857 at Balderton, they were married in 1878 their marriage was recorded in the Bingham Registration District, they went on to have 8 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, ohn b1878 Orston, William b1882 Orston, Walter b1885 Orston, James b1891 Balderton and Gertrude b1896 Newark. In the 1911 census the family are living at 182 Barnby Gate, Newark and are shown as John 62 yrs plaster mill labourer, he is living with his wife Sarah 54 yrs and their children, John 33 yrs no occupation listed, William 29 yrs a mail driver for the post office, Walter 26 yrs a brewery labourer, James 20 yrs a moulder in an iron foundry and Girtie Holwell 15 yrs.
Private James Holwell enlisted at Newark and served with the 1/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters, he landed in France on 28th June 1915. He was killed in action on 23rd April 1917, having n known grave his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
His brother Private Walter Holwell enlisted on 1st September 1914 at Newark, he gave his age as 31 yrs and 284 days , his address was 182 Barmby Gate, Newark and his next of kin was his father John of the same address. He was posted to the 1st battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and landed in France on 11th November 1914. He developed a severe hernia and was returned to England on 4th January 1915 for treatment. He was admitted to the West Park Hospital, Ampthill, Bedfordshire and on 10th January he was operated on, he went on to develop pneumonia and at 01.10am 31st January 1915 he died at the hospital. He is buried in Newark-upon-Trent Cemetery, Nottinghamshire. Article published 20th February 1918 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of John & Sarah Holwell, 18 Barnbygate. After attending the Wesleyan School, he worked at Lowfields (Messrs. Simpson & Co.) and later for Messrs. Gilstrap, Earp & Co. prior to enlisting. Joined the 1/8th Sherwood Foresters on Nov. 4th, 1914 and went to France two years ago. He took part in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Wounded in the hand, he insisted on continuing on duty. He took part in all the subsequent engagements of the 1/8th up to the Battle of Lens in April 1917. An attack was made on Hill 65, it is said that of 125 men who went over the top, only 50 came back, of which 25 were wounded. James was among the missing and officially declared dead in Feb. 1917. His brother Walter died of wounds on Jan. 30th, 1915. The third son, William has just joined-up.
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