33rd BATTALION AIF
Private: 1951 Eric Frederick Roy HOLLAND.
Born: 1899. Auckland, New Zealand.
Died: 13th of July 1917. Died of Wounds, Surrey, England.
Father: Harry Goode Holland.
Mother: Sarah Ann Holland.
INFORMATION
No.1951 Eric Frederick Roy HOLLAND was an 18 year old Boot-Maker from Haberfield in NSW when he enlisted in the AIF at Sydney on the 31st March 1916. He had trained previously with the 32nd Infantry Battalion (Militia) under the ‘Compulsory Training Scheme’. He nominated his Mother as his next-of-kin on his Attestation Form.
He embarked from Australia as a member of the 2nd Reinforcements of the 33rd BATTALION aboard the HMAT (A15) ‘Port Sydney’ that sailed from Sydney on the 4th September 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth in England on the 29th October 1916. On arrival the Reinforcements travelled by train to Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, where they marched into the 9th Training Battalion.
On the 20th of December 1916 he deployed from England across to France, marching in to the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples.
· Offence - on the 29th December 1916 he was charged with the offence “Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he gave his pass to another soldier”. He was found ‘Guilty’ and forfeited two days pay.
On the 25th of January 1917 he marched out to the front with other reinforcements and was taken-on-strength by the 33rd BATTALION AIF (New England’s Own / the Northern Battalion) at Houplines in France on the 26th January 1917. He was one of ninety-four reinforcements to arrive and he was posted to “D” Company.
On the 4th June 1917 while doing fatigue work at the dumps in Ploegsteert Wood, near Messines, Belgium he was WOUNDED-IN-ACTION when an enemy shell exploded nearby and he was struck in the throat by shrapnel. He was admitted to the 9th Field-Ambulance and then transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux. He was invalided to England on the 22nd June and then admitted to the No2 Military Hospital in Canterbury. On the 27th of June he was considered well enough to be transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
He subsequently DIED-OF-WOUNDS on the 13th of July 1917, from acute oedema and heart failure.
He was interred with Military-Honours at the Brookwood Military Cemetery at Pirbright in Surrey, England.
(Bill Durrant: August 2020)
Died on this date – 13th July…… Eric Frederick Roy Holland was born on 26th October, 1899 at Auckland, New Zealand to parents Harry Goode Holland & Sarah Holland (nee Mansfield).
He & his younger sister Evelyn Daisy Holland were both baptised on 13th October, 1909 at St. Peter’s Church, Woolloomooloo, East Sydney, NSW. The family lived at 76 Forbes Street & Harry Holland was listed as a Photographer.
On 31st March, 1916 Eric Frederick Roy Holland enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) stating he was aged 18 years & 5 months*, single & a Bootmaker from 63 Hawthorn Parade, Haberfield, Sydney, NSW.
(*Note: Eric Holland was aged 16 years & 5 months when he enlisted)
As Eric Frederick Roy Holland was under the age of 21 years – his parents were required to sign their consent for their son to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force for Active Service abroad. Sarah Holland signed her consent “father dead.”
Private Eric Frederick Roy Holland, Service number 1951, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Port Sydney (A15) on 4th September, 1916 with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements. He was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 4th September, 1916 with Mumps & was discharged on 27th October, 1916. Private Holland disembarked at Plymouth, England on 29th October, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located on the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 20th December, 1916 Private Holland proceeded overseas to France on Princess Victoria. He was marched in to 3rd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 21st December, 1916.
He was written up on 29th December, 1916 while posted at 3rd A.D.B.D. – “Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he gave his pass to another soldier.” He was awarded a forfeiture of 2 days pay by Commanding Officer of Base Details.
On 25th January, 1917 Private Holland was marched out from 3rd A.B.D.B. to the Front & was taken on strength of 33rd Battalion in France on 26th January, 1917 from 2nd Reinforcements.
Private Eric Frederick Roy Holland was wounded in action on 4th June, 1917 & was admitted to 9th Field Ambulance with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Neck. He was transferred & admitted to Casualty Clearing Station then transferred & admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, France on 22nd June, 1917. Private Holland was transferred to England on 22nd June, 1917 on Hospital Ship Peter de Conick.
He was admitted to No. 2 Military Hospital, Old Park, Canterbury, England on 22nd June, 1917 with G.S.W. to Neck. (previously a “stereoscopic plate failed to find any F.B.” (F.B. = foreign body) & a larynxoscopic examination had been completed.) He was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent on 27th June, 1917.
Private Eric Frederick Roy Holland died at 7 am on 13th July, 1917 at 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent, England from wounds received in action in France – shell wound/s to Throat.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
Australian War Memorial – First World War Boy Soldiers List:
During the First World War, the minimum enlistment age was 21 years or 18 years with the permission of a parent or guardian. We know there were hundreds of young men who lied about their age and served before reaching 18 years. The following 'boy soldiers' and 'boy sailors' have been identified among the approximately 61,000 names on the Roll of Honour for the First World War as having also died before the age of 18.
(Information from the Australian War Memorial)
**At the time of researching (July, 2026) Private Eric Frederick Roy Holland’s name was not included in the Australian War Memorial’s First World War Boy Soldiers List. I submitted his name to the Australian War Memorial at the time of researching for consideration to be added to the list.
UPDATE: The Australian War Memorial replied recently & advised that after reviewing the documentation sent with the submission that they have agreed & Private Eric Frederick Roy Holland’s name had been added to the Australian War Memorial’s First World War Boy Soldier list. (They added “due to a change in our Collection Management System, it may be a few weeks before these changes are visible on our website.”)
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
Headstone photo – courtesy of Neil Bright
Family Information
Eric was a single 18 year old Boot Maker from 63 Hawthorne Parade, Haberfield, N.S.W. upon enlistment with the AIF
Military Records
Under Construction: 28/08/2020.