Holden, Thomas

No.1948 – Private Thomas George Holden – 28^th Battalion AIF

Thomas George Holden was born in Fremantle WA in 1894 to George and Catherine Holden. He was one of five children, with the eldest being William, and younger siblings James, Ethel and Maud. Thomas was educated locally and lived with his family in Frederick Street North Fremantle. (Later renamed to Hevron Street)

After leaving school Tom took up work as a labourer and also served in the 86^th Infantry in Fremantle. On the 21^st June 1915 Tom enlisted into the AIF at the Perth Drill Hall. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 9 & ½ inches tall; weight of 143 lbs; chest measurement of 35-39 inches; dark complexion; blue eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Thomas was allotted to the 3^rd Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA until the end of August 1915, when their orders to embark came through. On the 2^nd September 1915 his group boarded the H.M.A.T. “Anchises” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt. Tom and his group did not spend much time in Egypt as they were immediately sent on to Gallipoli. On the 12^th October 1915, Tom was taken on strength of the 28^th Battalion at Anzac. He served through to the end of this campaign with the 28^th Battalion and left with them when they evacuated.

On the 10^th January 1916 the 28^th Battalion was back in Egypt where they commenced training for the Western Front and they also spent time in the Suez Canal defence line. On the 28^th January Tom got into trouble for being absent from a parade and a few days later being absent without leave. He was awarded 7 days of Field Punishment No.2 and also had to forfeit 7 days pay.

On the 16^th March 1916 the 28^th Battalion left Alexandria and proceeded to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21^st March 1916. After being disembarked the men were put onto trains and sent to the north of France, near Armentieres. The Battalion had their first taste of life on the Western Front not far from Fleurbaix. However Tom was soon in trouble from March into April; for being drunk while on active service; Neglecting to comply with an order given by a superior officer; and being absent from a military tattoo. He was given over 30 days of Field Punishment No.2 and also fined.

On the 16^th June Tom was found to be drunk while on duty and on the 28^th June a Field General Court Martial was held which sentenced Tom to six months imprisonment with hard labour. This sentence was reduced by Brigadier Paton to 90 days of Field Punishment No.2. However the Battalion was soon on the move to the Somme. They relieved the 1^st Australian Division on the 28^th July after that Division had captured Pozieres village. The 2^nd Division were to further the gains already made and on July 29^th the 28^th Battalion attacked the German lines and were decimated by machine gun and artillery. Fortunately Tom came through unscathed but it was a much depleted battalion that a few days later were asked to make another assault.

On August 4^th the 28^th Battalion despite their reduced numbers managed to capture the vital ground near the Windmill position. However their casualties were again heavy and such was the confusion that Tom was listed as killed in action somewhere between the 4^th and 6^th August 1916. Unfortunately his body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretoneux Memorial.

The Holden family paid a high price as his brother William was killed at Ypres on the 26^th September 1917. Their younger brother James served with the 10^th Light Horse and survived the war.