Pte
Gilbert Holt
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Stratford, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Stratford, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Butcher |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 1690 |
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Enlistment date: 29/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sale, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Jap Avenue, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 7 R |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gilbert Holt was the son of Elizabeth E. and Thomas Grosvenor Holt. He was born in Stratford, Victoria around 1897 and worked as a butcher. On 29 January 1916, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Australian Army. He joined the 5th Battalion (1st Division, 2nd Brigade). His older brother Thomas Mitchell Holt, who enlisted in March 1916 at the age of 20, joined the same battalion.
Both brothers were killed on 20 September 1917 at the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 5th Battalion assembled near Jap Avenue. The attack began at Glencorse Wood, just beyond Clapham Junction, a key junction on the Menin Road. Even before the attack, the brigade had lost men to artillery fire. At 5.40am, the 6th Battalion attacked first. The 5th Battalion was still in trenches and shell holes just behind this battalion at the start of the attack. After the first objective, just beyond Glencorse Wood, had been taken by the 6th Battalion, the 5th Battalion attacked. Their objective was Black Watch Corner near Polygon Wood. They encountered resistance from pill boxes near Lone House. These German positions were taken with the help of a company of reinforcements. During the consolidation of the second objective for Black Watch Corner, the artillery barrage weakened. As a result, German machine gun fire became more intense. After renewed Allied artillery fire, the attack continued. The 7th and 8th Battalions also captured the third and final objective at Carlisle Farm. Afterwards, the 5th Battalion, which had taken Black Watch Corner, counted 70 killed, 195 wounded and 12 missing.
Gilbert and Thomas were among the 70 dead. One of the brothers, presumably Thomas, was wounded in the right thigh, according to a testimony. Gilbert stayed with him and helped evacuate Thomas with stretcher-bearers. A grenade exploded nearby and both brothers were killed instantly. The incident took place in the area of operations between Glencorse Wood and Black Watch Corner. Exactly where they were killed is unclear. Some witnesses said they fell between Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse, others said at Black Watch Corner. The personal files of both brothers mention that both Thomas and Gilbert were buried about 300 yards southwest of Glencorse Wood and about 2 miles west of Beselare at coordinate 28.J.14.c.6.8, on Jap Avenue. Both Gilbert and Thomas have no known grave. Both are commemorated on the Menin Gate (panel 7, stone R).
Both brothers were killed on 20 September 1917 at the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 5th Battalion assembled near Jap Avenue. The attack began at Glencorse Wood, just beyond Clapham Junction, a key junction on the Menin Road. Even before the attack, the brigade had lost men to artillery fire. At 5.40am, the 6th Battalion attacked first. The 5th Battalion was still in trenches and shell holes just behind this battalion at the start of the attack. After the first objective, just beyond Glencorse Wood, had been taken by the 6th Battalion, the 5th Battalion attacked. Their objective was Black Watch Corner near Polygon Wood. They encountered resistance from pill boxes near Lone House. These German positions were taken with the help of a company of reinforcements. During the consolidation of the second objective for Black Watch Corner, the artillery barrage weakened. As a result, German machine gun fire became more intense. After renewed Allied artillery fire, the attack continued. The 7th and 8th Battalions also captured the third and final objective at Carlisle Farm. Afterwards, the 5th Battalion, which had taken Black Watch Corner, counted 70 killed, 195 wounded and 12 missing.
Gilbert and Thomas were among the 70 dead. One of the brothers, presumably Thomas, was wounded in the right thigh, according to a testimony. Gilbert stayed with him and helped evacuate Thomas with stretcher-bearers. A grenade exploded nearby and both brothers were killed instantly. The incident took place in the area of operations between Glencorse Wood and Black Watch Corner. Exactly where they were killed is unclear. Some witnesses said they fell between Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse, others said at Black Watch Corner. The personal files of both brothers mention that both Thomas and Gilbert were buried about 300 yards southwest of Glencorse Wood and about 2 miles west of Beselare at coordinate 28.J.14.c.6.8, on Jap Avenue. Both Gilbert and Thomas have no known grave. Both are commemorated on the Menin Gate (panel 7, stone R).
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Thomas Mitchell Holt
Brother |
Sources 7
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2nd Brigade Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/2/29). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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5th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/22/31). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1048423). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, HOLT G). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5822939 Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 80 - 81. Sources used |
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Roll Of Honour (Austarlian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1068873). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/924287 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=8f3b73ee-8c28-4faa-9483-209f141b561d |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7484409 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=141872 |