Holland, John George
2921 Private John George Holland - 32nd Battalion AIF
John was born in 1886 in Milton, Gravesend Kent England to John and Elizabeth Holland, being one of eight siblings.
He was educated and grew up in Milton Kent.
He married Mildred Weston on the 25th December 1906 in Kent and they would have, John born in 1906, Mildred in 1908, and William in 1910.
They moved to Western Australia circa 1912 and another daughter Annie was born in 1912.
The family were dwelling at 116 Hubble St East Fremantle upon their arrival (later renamed 64 Hubble) before moving to McKinnon Street and then 58 Hampton Road. (later renumbered to 42 Hampton). During this time John was working as a Lumper on Fremantle wharf.
On the 26th June 1916 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-38 inches;
Complexion - Ruddy;
Eyes - Grey;
hair - Brown;
Distinctive Marks - Tattoos on both forearms.
Upon his successful enlistment, John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was put into No.77 Training Depot. He spent three weeks there being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 1st August 1918 he was then transferred to the 8th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion. He trained for the next month with this group but on the 4th September 1916 he was moved to the 7th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF.
John would have another two months of training with this group in WA. On the 9th November 1916, John and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Devonport on the 10th January 1917.
After being disembarked, John and his group were sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He spent three months training here and on the 13th March 1917 proceeded to Folkestone Harbour where they boarded a transport ship which took him across the Channel to France.
On arrival at Etaples, John was marched into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He spent a few weeks here and would soon have a change of unit. Instead of joining the 51st Battalion he was reassigned to the 32nd Battalion of the 8th Brigade, 5th Division AIF.
John was taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion on the 4th April 1917. The Battalion was then in the vicinity of Bapaume and was in this area through April and May 1917. John saw action with the 32nd Battalion at Bullecourt in May 1917 and came through unscathed.
In June 1917 the 32nd Battalion was pulled out of the front line for a three month rest period. Much of the time was taken up with training and sporting activities. John must have been a good marksman as in July 1917 he was sent to the 3rd Army Sniping School.
In September the 5th Division went to Belgium as they were to participate in the Third Battle of Ypres. Through September and October 1917, the 32nd Battalion saw action at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge. Casualties were heavy in the unit though John came through safely.
From December to March 1918, the 32nd Battalion helped to hold the front line in Belgium south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines. On the 22nd January 1918 John was sent to a training course on gathering intelligence. While he was at this course he fell ill as he had issues with trench feet. After being sent to the Casualty Clearing Station he was then sent to the 2nd General Hospital at Abbeville.
John remained at Abbeville till the 9th March 1918 as he was then sent to England for further treatment. On arrival he was sent to the 2/1st Southern General Hospital at Dudley Road Birmingham. He spent a week there and was then transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
John remained at Harefield till the 10th April 1918. As his health had now improved John was then given a two week furlough. After reporting back on the 24th April 1918 John was sent to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He would now remain here for the next few months while he regained full fitness. However on the 14th June 1918 John fell ill with influenza and was sent to the camp Hospital. John recovered after a week and was returned to No.3 Command Depot Camp.
It appears John was utiltised here for the next few months as it was not until the 5th September 1918 that John was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He would be here for five more weeks as he only departed back to France on the 12th October 1918. John rejoined the 32nd Battalion on the 17th October 1918.
By this stage of the war, the 32nd Battalion had been pulled out of the front line for a rest period and the Armistice was soon announced on the 11th November 1918.
After the Armistice the Germans pulled back to their own borders and the Australians went to what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The Australians were in these areas from December 1918 to May 1919.
On the 19th February 1919 John was given two weeks leave to England, but returned to France once this was over. He then remained in France for three more months, returning to England on the 13th May 1919. He was then sent to Weymouth to await being assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 1st June 1919 John boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. After being disembarked John was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 16th August 1919.
After leaving the AIF, John resumed his work as a Lumper on Fremantle wharf.
In 1923 John remarried to Agnes Regan in Fremantle in 1923. They then soon moved to Adrian street Palmyra.
John would be working for the Docks, Rivers and Harbour Works in Fremantle through the 1930's.
Sadly Agnes died in 1940, with John living until the 9th February 1961 aged 72. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MON C4 0132.