Arthur Holbrook
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Father: Thomas Henry Holbrook, born in 1848 in Nottingham and working as an engine fitter. Mother: Sarah Holbrook, born in 1850 in Nottingham. Brothers:Ernest, born 1874 and working as an iron turner, Harry, born in 1884 and William, born in 1888 and working as a lace machine fitter. Sisters: Annie, born in 1879 and working as a pinafore machinist and Elizabeth, born in 1881 and working as a shirt machinist. All the children were born in Nottingham. The family lived at 34 Waterway Street, Nottingham before moving to 68 St. Stephen's Road, Nottingham and finally 71 Lees Hill Street, Sneinton, Nottingham.
Pte. Holbrook joined the Sherwood Foresters, but whilst in the midst of training at Watford, on the 24/04/1916 the men were entrained to Liverpool and sailed on the S.S. "Tynwald" to Kingstown and then to Dublin, where the Easter Rebellion had broken out. The troops had no training in street fighting and had left the machine guns behind in the rush to depart. As a result as they fought through the streets towards the city centre they took heavy casualties, and as night fell they decided to await reinforcements. After fighting for control of key bridges the next day they were moved to the north of Dublin to ensure control there. Pte. Holbrook was one of those killed in action. He was buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. Unsurprisingly anti-Irish feeling was very strong in Nottingham for some time. He was one of 31 men of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment who died during the Irish Rebellion 1916.
In memoriam notices published on 27th April 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLBROOK. — In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Arthur Holbrook, killed in Dublin. April 27th, [sic] 1916. A noble life sacrificed. — Ernest and Gertie. “HOLBROOK. — In loving memory of our dear brother, Private A. Holbrook, Sherwood Foresters, killed in Dublin April 27th, 1916. We think of you in silence, and your name we oft recall, but there’s nothing left to answer but the photo on the wall. — Will and Nellie. “HOLBROOK. — In loving memory our brother, killed in Dublin April 27th, 1916. Sadly missed. Some day we'll understand. — Harry and Nellie. “HOLBROOK. — In ever-loving memory Private Arthur Holbrook, killed in Dublin April 27th, 1916. To the brightest of all meetings bring us, Jesus Christ, at last. — Sorrowing Fiancée, Lillie.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
