Thomas Holroyd
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
According to the military records, Thomas Holroyd was born in about 1879 in the parish of St Andrew, Plymouth. (No registration of birth, Plymouth, yet identified.) Thomas has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census, but he attested in the Militia (Devonshire Regiment) on 22 January 1902 giving his address as 11 Octagon Street, Plymouth in the parish of St Andrew. He had no next of kin. He was working as a labourer for Sir John Jackson of Devonport. At the time of the 1911 census Thomas was serving with the 2nd battalion Devonshire Regiment which was in barracks at Malta. He was 31 yrs old and held the rank of corporal. Thomas married Matilda Simpson (b. 6 November 1871) in 1914 (J/F/M Nottingham). Matilda was the daughter of William and Sarah Simpson and was one of at least seven children: William Henry, Matilda, Mollie, Ellen, Alfred, Sarah A. and Frank. Their mother Sarah died before 1901 by which time Matilda was acting as housekeeper to the family. The family had been living at 67 Corporation Road, Nottingham, since at least 1891. Matilda continued to live at 67 Corporation Road after her marriage to Thomas and was living there alone when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. She died on 28 December 1963; the probate record gave her address as 51 Manning Street, Nottingham.
Thomas Holroyd was living and working in Plymouth when he attested in the Militia (Devon Regiment) on 22 January 1902 (3815). He transferred to the Devon Regiment on 7 March 1902 after 49 days in the Militia. He initially served with service number 6911 in the Devonshire Regiment and was serving with the 2nd Battalion in Malta in 1911. Thomas later transferred and served with 2nd Bn Dorset Regiment which was drafted to Mesopotamia. Suffering with fever, he was admitted to one of the seven general hospitals on the banks of the Tigris but died on 22 May 1916. He was buried in Amara War Cemetery but as a result of deterioration of the headstones his name is now commemorated on a screen wall. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The UKSDGW record shows that he enlisted in Exeter, Devon (date not given) but was a resident of Nottingham. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour, 10 June 1916: ‘Holroyd. Died of fever in Persian Gulf, May 22nd, Sergeant T Holroyd, the beloved husband of Matilda Holroyd, of 67, Corporation-road. Duty nobly done. From his sorrowing wife.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notice published 22nd May 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLROYD. – In loving memory Sergt. T. Holroyd, the beloved husband of Matilda Holroyd, died of fever, Mesopotamia, May 22nd, 1916. To forget you is a vain endeavour. Loving memory clings for ever.” Above notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects and WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: his legatee and dependant was his widow, Matilda Simpson. Probate: Holroyd Matilda of 51 Manning Street Nottingham widow died 28 December 1963 at The City Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 6 February to Phyllis Irene Davis and Stanley Albert William Simpson commercial traveller. £1799. [Note: Phyllis Irene Davis née Simpson b. abt. 1908, and Stanley Albert William Simpson b. 4 November 1910, were the children of Arthur Simpson b. 3 December 1880.]
No Photos