Serjeant Holtum MM - 12th Battalion AIF - 1918
522 Serjeant
H E Holtum MM
12th Bn. Australian Inf.
22nd September 1918
Name: HOLTUM, HENRY EDWARD
Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 12th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/09/1918 Service No: 522 Awards: M M
Additional information: Son of H. Raphall and Elizabeth Holtum, of Solly St., Zeehan, Tasmania.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 54. 702. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803178
Sergeant Holtum’s next of kin is given as his father, Richard, in his Australian Army records,
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5823069&I=1&am...
He was obviously keen, enlisting on the 21st August 1914 in the 12th Battalion at the age of 19 years and eight months. His occupation was listed as Grocer. He was already serving in the militia.
He is described as 5 foot 8 and a quarter, weighed 9 stone 10 lbs, with dark brown hair, dark complexion and greyish eyes.
He was wounded between 25th/28th April 1915, and then possibly again on the 4th May in the left hip, (could be same wound, the records are not clear). He was medically evacuated on the 4th May on the SS Clan McGilvay to the hospital at Valetta, Malta.
He returned to his unit on the 16th July at their base depot in Alexandria, and on the 19th was shipped back to Gallipoli.
The whole battalion is recorded as disembarking on the 6th January 1916, back in Alexandria. On the 18th March he was promoted to Lance Corporal. After a spell at a signallers course, (where he received a first class pass), he then embarked with his battalion for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916.
A promotion to Corporal came in August, although later in the month he would spend a week in hospital “sick with an infected eye”. During this time he was promoted to “Temporary” Sergeant, which was subsequently made permanent on the 24.11.1916 to replace a Sergeant Stevens, who had been wounded.
He had another week in hospital in July 1917 (P.U.O - Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, ie the doctors don’t have a clue !). On the 3rd October he was detached for duty with the 3rd Training Battalion in England. During October and November he moved between the 3rd and 1st Training Battalions, before embarking on what looks like an Instructor qualifying course in Dunstable between the 27th December and the 28th February 1918.In March he was taken permanently on the Training Cadre of 1st Training Battalion. His Military Medal was awarded on the 14th December 1917, which was gazetted in the Third Supplement, no 30431, of the London Gazette for that day.
On the 10th September he reported sick to a Field Ambulance unit while on leave at Wroxham, and two days later was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital with “pleurisy and headaches”. By 4 am on the 22nd he was dead with Tubercular Meningitis. He was buried on the 25th. Army bureaucracy being what it always is, he then had to be formally transferred back to the 12th Battalion.
The letter describing the funeral advises that a Mrs Butt, of Manor Farm, Great Ormesley (suspect Ormesby), Yarmouth, was in attendance, along with a Mrs Gill, a Private Atkingson of the New Zealand Machine Gun Company and a Sergeant F E Allchin, as well as 20 Australian patients from the hospital.
His actions leading to the award of the Military Medal is described here
Military Medal
'In the attack on POLYGON WOOD, east of HOOGE on 20/21st September, 1917, Sgt. HOLTUM commanded the Headquarters Signal Section, the Signalling Officer having been killed. He displayed great initiative and conspicuous bravery under fire, continually moving about the line arranging for the establishment of communications, which were most satisfactory during the whole engagement. Sgt. HOLTUM has been in almost every engagement in which the Battalion has taken part and has commanded his section in 3 of the last 4.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918
www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=141976
3 Australian Bde
The brigade attacked with 11th Battalion, supported by 12th Battalion and with 10th and 9th Battalions in reserve.
The 11th was immediately held up by MG fire from concrete positions in the sunken track north of Glencorse Wood and 10th Bn sent up to reinforce. These dealt with both battalions resumed the advance to the eastern edge of Glencorse Wood. 12th Bn then took over having to wend their way along the edges of flooded shellholes in Nonne Boschen. 12th Bn reached it’s objective, the western edge of Polygon Wood, at 7.45 am. 9th and 10th Bns then moved through onto the Red Line.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=11535&...
12th Battalion
The 12th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Half of the battalion was recruited in Tasmania, a quarter was recruited in South Australia, and a quarter from Western Australia. With the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade.
The battalion was raised within three weeks of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early December. The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 and so was the first ashore at around 4:30 am. Lieutenant Colonel L. F. Clarke, commander of the 12th Battalion, was killed by a sniper within hours of the landing. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position, and in August contributed two companies to the attack on Lone Pine. It was the only battalion in the brigade to do so. The 12th served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 12th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley in July 1916. After Pozières, the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders and then returned to the Somme for winter.
In 1917 the battalion took part in the brief advance that followed the German Army’s retreat to the Hindenburg Line. For their valorous actions near Boursies during this advance, Captain J. E. ‘Jim’ Newland, commanding A Company, and Sergeant J. W. Whittle were each awarded the Victoria Cross. The battalion subsequently returned to Belgium to participate in the offensive that became known as the Third Battle of Ypres.
www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11199.asp
There are a number of group shots of soldiers from the unit, which possibly include Henry Holtum, here
www.newtownprimary.tased.edu.au/HISTORY/Anzac/HonRoll/12B...
www.henrick.com/ww1/history.htm
His Brother’s, (I assume) Herbert and Cyril also made the ultimate sacrifice.
Name: HOLTUM, HERBERT DARCY
Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 14th Bn.
Age: 26 Date of Death: 09/06/1915 Service No: 506
Additional information: (Served as WILSON). Son of Richard H. and Elizabeth Holtum, of Solly St., Zeehan, Tasmania. Born at Scottsdale, Tasmania.
Grave/Memorial Reference: M. 41. Cemetery: CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=112859
Herbert’s army record can be seen here, which shows he served as Sydney Wilson
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=2015026&I=1&am...
He joined on the 11th September 1914. He died at Gezirah, of Wounds received in the Dardenelles - GSW head leading to fractured skull.
Name: HOLTUM, CYRIL ROBERT
Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 12th Bn. Age: 28 Date of Death: 11/08/1918 Service No: 2029
Additional information: Son of Richard and Elizabeth Holtum; husband of Evangeline Holtum, of 215, Brisbane, Launceston, Tasmania. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1462102
Cyril’s Army records can be seen here, and confirm his place of birth as Scottsdale but living in Zeehan, Tasmania at the time of enlistment.
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5823068&I=1&am...
www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=141975
Serjeant Holtum MM - 12th Battalion AIF - 1918
522 Serjeant
H E Holtum MM
12th Bn. Australian Inf.
22nd September 1918
Name: HOLTUM, HENRY EDWARD
Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 12th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/09/1918 Service No: 522 Awards: M M
Additional information: Son of H. Raphall and Elizabeth Holtum, of Solly St., Zeehan, Tasmania.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 54. 702. Cemetery: NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803178
Sergeant Holtum’s next of kin is given as his father, Richard, in his Australian Army records,
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5823069&I=1&am...
He was obviously keen, enlisting on the 21st August 1914 in the 12th Battalion at the age of 19 years and eight months. His occupation was listed as Grocer. He was already serving in the militia.
He is described as 5 foot 8 and a quarter, weighed 9 stone 10 lbs, with dark brown hair, dark complexion and greyish eyes.
He was wounded between 25th/28th April 1915, and then possibly again on the 4th May in the left hip, (could be same wound, the records are not clear). He was medically evacuated on the 4th May on the SS Clan McGilvay to the hospital at Valetta, Malta.
He returned to his unit on the 16th July at their base depot in Alexandria, and on the 19th was shipped back to Gallipoli.
The whole battalion is recorded as disembarking on the 6th January 1916, back in Alexandria. On the 18th March he was promoted to Lance Corporal. After a spell at a signallers course, (where he received a first class pass), he then embarked with his battalion for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916.
A promotion to Corporal came in August, although later in the month he would spend a week in hospital “sick with an infected eye”. During this time he was promoted to “Temporary” Sergeant, which was subsequently made permanent on the 24.11.1916 to replace a Sergeant Stevens, who had been wounded.
He had another week in hospital in July 1917 (P.U.O - Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, ie the doctors don’t have a clue !). On the 3rd October he was detached for duty with the 3rd Training Battalion in England. During October and November he moved between the 3rd and 1st Training Battalions, before embarking on what looks like an Instructor qualifying course in Dunstable between the 27th December and the 28th February 1918.In March he was taken permanently on the Training Cadre of 1st Training Battalion. His Military Medal was awarded on the 14th December 1917, which was gazetted in the Third Supplement, no 30431, of the London Gazette for that day.
On the 10th September he reported sick to a Field Ambulance unit while on leave at Wroxham, and two days later was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital with “pleurisy and headaches”. By 4 am on the 22nd he was dead with Tubercular Meningitis. He was buried on the 25th. Army bureaucracy being what it always is, he then had to be formally transferred back to the 12th Battalion.
The letter describing the funeral advises that a Mrs Butt, of Manor Farm, Great Ormesley (suspect Ormesby), Yarmouth, was in attendance, along with a Mrs Gill, a Private Atkingson of the New Zealand Machine Gun Company and a Sergeant F E Allchin, as well as 20 Australian patients from the hospital.
His actions leading to the award of the Military Medal is described here
Military Medal
'In the attack on POLYGON WOOD, east of HOOGE on 20/21st September, 1917, Sgt. HOLTUM commanded the Headquarters Signal Section, the Signalling Officer having been killed. He displayed great initiative and conspicuous bravery under fire, continually moving about the line arranging for the establishment of communications, which were most satisfactory during the whole engagement. Sgt. HOLTUM has been in almost every engagement in which the Battalion has taken part and has commanded his section in 3 of the last 4.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918
www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=141976
3 Australian Bde
The brigade attacked with 11th Battalion, supported by 12th Battalion and with 10th and 9th Battalions in reserve.
The 11th was immediately held up by MG fire from concrete positions in the sunken track north of Glencorse Wood and 10th Bn sent up to reinforce. These dealt with both battalions resumed the advance to the eastern edge of Glencorse Wood. 12th Bn then took over having to wend their way along the edges of flooded shellholes in Nonne Boschen. 12th Bn reached it’s objective, the western edge of Polygon Wood, at 7.45 am. 9th and 10th Bns then moved through onto the Red Line.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=11535&...
12th Battalion
The 12th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Half of the battalion was recruited in Tasmania, a quarter was recruited in South Australia, and a quarter from Western Australia. With the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade.
The battalion was raised within three weeks of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early December. The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 and so was the first ashore at around 4:30 am. Lieutenant Colonel L. F. Clarke, commander of the 12th Battalion, was killed by a sniper within hours of the landing. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position, and in August contributed two companies to the attack on Lone Pine. It was the only battalion in the brigade to do so. The 12th served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 12th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley in July 1916. After Pozières, the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders and then returned to the Somme for winter.
In 1917 the battalion took part in the brief advance that followed the German Army’s retreat to the Hindenburg Line. For their valorous actions near Boursies during this advance, Captain J. E. ‘Jim’ Newland, commanding A Company, and Sergeant J. W. Whittle were each awarded the Victoria Cross. The battalion subsequently returned to Belgium to participate in the offensive that became known as the Third Battle of Ypres.
www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11199.asp
There are a number of group shots of soldiers from the unit, which possibly include Henry Holtum, here
www.newtownprimary.tased.edu.au/HISTORY/Anzac/HonRoll/12B...
www.henrick.com/ww1/history.htm
His Brother’s, (I assume) Herbert and Cyril also made the ultimate sacrifice.
Name: HOLTUM, HERBERT DARCY
Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 14th Bn.
Age: 26 Date of Death: 09/06/1915 Service No: 506
Additional information: (Served as WILSON). Son of Richard H. and Elizabeth Holtum, of Solly St., Zeehan, Tasmania. Born at Scottsdale, Tasmania.
Grave/Memorial Reference: M. 41. Cemetery: CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=112859
Herbert’s army record can be seen here, which shows he served as Sydney Wilson
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=2015026&I=1&am...
He joined on the 11th September 1914. He died at Gezirah, of Wounds received in the Dardenelles - GSW head leading to fractured skull.
Name: HOLTUM, CYRIL ROBERT
Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 12th Bn. Age: 28 Date of Death: 11/08/1918 Service No: 2029
Additional information: Son of Richard and Elizabeth Holtum; husband of Evangeline Holtum, of 215, Brisbane, Launceston, Tasmania. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1462102
Cyril’s Army records can be seen here, and confirm his place of birth as Scottsdale but living in Zeehan, Tasmania at the time of enlistment.
naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5823068&I=1&am...
www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=141975