Pte
Thomas Mitchell Holt
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Stratford, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Orbost, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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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: 6863 |
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Enlistment date: 09/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, 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: Black Watch Corner, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 7 stone 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
Private Thomas Mitchell Holt worked as labourer in the city of Orbost, Victoria when he enlisted with the 5th Battalion AIF, part of the First Australian Division, 2nd Brigade.
During the bitterly cold winter of 1916 Gilbert was sent to hospital with trench feet and was evacuated to England. Shortly after rejoining the 5th Battalion, he suffered shrapnel wounds to the face on the 23 February 1917.
During April 1917 Thomas Mitchell joined the 5th Battalion in the field with his younger brother Gilbert Holt.
From then on the two brothers served together and went into an attack together in Belgium on the 20th September 1917.
That day the 1st Australian Division attacked at 05.40 a.m. in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (20-25 September 1917) part of the Battle of Passchendaele.
The 6th Battalion attacked with the 5th Battalion in support and crossed Glencorse Wood with little difficulty.
The attack was taken over by the 5th Battalion. The pillboxes on their front mostly surrendered without a shot being fired, but they outflanked a blockhouse which was causing the 23rd Division some difficulty, and then went on to the Blue Line, taking Verbeeck Farm on the way. Consolidation began, but they were fired on from Black Watch Corner. A party was sent out to take the pillbox, and did so with little difficulty.
Up to six eye witnesses stated that one of the brothers was wounded, generally agreed to be Thomas Holt. Gilbert was assisting stretcher bearers to carry his brother back to a dressing station when the whole party was hit by another artillery shell, instantly killing both brothers.
Neither of the Holt boys has a known grave.
Private Thomas Mitchell Holt, 22 years of age is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, bay 7 stone R
During the bitterly cold winter of 1916 Gilbert was sent to hospital with trench feet and was evacuated to England. Shortly after rejoining the 5th Battalion, he suffered shrapnel wounds to the face on the 23 February 1917.
During April 1917 Thomas Mitchell joined the 5th Battalion in the field with his younger brother Gilbert Holt.
From then on the two brothers served together and went into an attack together in Belgium on the 20th September 1917.
That day the 1st Australian Division attacked at 05.40 a.m. in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (20-25 September 1917) part of the Battle of Passchendaele.
The 6th Battalion attacked with the 5th Battalion in support and crossed Glencorse Wood with little difficulty.
The attack was taken over by the 5th Battalion. The pillboxes on their front mostly surrendered without a shot being fired, but they outflanked a blockhouse which was causing the 23rd Division some difficulty, and then went on to the Blue Line, taking Verbeeck Farm on the way. Consolidation began, but they were fired on from Black Watch Corner. A party was sent out to take the pillbox, and did so with little difficulty.
Up to six eye witnesses stated that one of the brothers was wounded, generally agreed to be Thomas Holt. Gilbert was assisting stretcher bearers to carry his brother back to a dressing station when the whole party was hit by another artillery shell, instantly killing both brothers.
Neither of the Holt boys has a known grave.
Private Thomas Mitchell Holt, 22 years of age is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, bay 7 stone R
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Gilbert Holt
Brother |
Sources 8
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 80-81" Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/924289/thomas-mitchell-holt/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5823014 Sources used |
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The AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=141924 Sources used |
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The Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Holt&people_service_number=6863&people_unit= Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/1st-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary 2nd Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1346442 Sources used |
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War Diary 5th Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342302 Sources used |