John Henry Holroyd

John Henry Holroyd

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Greetland, Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Age at Enlistment	33 years
Description	5'11" (1.80m) tall ; 141lbs 63.956 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; scar on bridge of his nose
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Methodist
Address	Greetland House, Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Reuben Holroyd
Military Information
Reg Number	4815
Date of Enlistment	20 Dec 1915
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement, transferred to 51st Battalion
Date of Embarkation	1 Apr 1916 ‒ 26 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	21 Jun 1919 ‒ 2 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Konigin Luise
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

During training in WA John was earmarked for the 15th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, and travelled with them to Egypt, entering at Alexandria. On 30 Apr 1916 he was hospitalised with measles in the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital. On 6 May 1916 he was released, and on 20 May 1916 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion. Soon after, on 31 May 1916 intel-el-Kebir he required hospital treatment for influenza.

John travelled separately from his unit to France, travelling from Alexandria on 7 Jun 1916 on the HMT Huntspill which arrived in Marseilles on 14 Jun 1916. It was not until 17 Oct 1916 that he would rejoin them, in France.

Ill again on 27 Mar 1917, he was seen by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance on 30 Mar 1917 and the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station the same day before being placed on Ambulance Train No 42 for Wimereux where he entered the 2nd Australian General Hospital. Not improving, he was evacuated from Boulogne to England aboard HMHS St Denis on 11 Apr 1917. The next day he was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital in Camberwell with influenza. (Later records speak of trench fever). Released to a convalescent depot on 30 Apr 1917, he was fit for duty after a short stint in 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital from 15 - 22 May 1917.

On 13 Aug 1917 John was well enough to proceed overseas to France through Southampton after a period regaining strength with the Overseas Training Battalion. He rejoined the 51st Battalion on 1 Sep 1917 as they moved from Neuvre Eglise to Hondegam near Hazebrouck prior to participating in the attack on Broodseinde.

On 1 May 1918 John was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 20 Jun 1918 he was again in need of medical treatment for influenza until 29 Jun 1916 from the 46th General Hospital. He had rejoined the 51st Battalion on 17 Jul 1918 and was to remain with them basically until his return to Australia in Jun 1919. (He did enjoy some leave in the UK from 24 Aug - 12 Sep 1918).

Notes

Cousin of Ernest Wright and George Henry Holroyd.