#Deal #Eastry #Kent #Military #WWI
Arthur George HOLMANS was the fifth of seven children born to William Graves HOLMANS (1859 – 1937), a Brewer, and Ellen Rebecca FRIEND (1866 – 1938).
William seems to have come from very poor beginnings in the Eastry area. He was actually born in the Union Workhouse. Annie was born in Deal and they got married there in July 1890. They were both in their mid-20s.
Arthur had four brothers – William Frederick Henry HOLMANS (1891 – 1945), Ernest Edwin HOLMANS (1892 – 1957), Walter James HOLMANS (1901 – 1971) and Alfred John HOLMANS (1903 – 1961).
He also had two sisters called Ellen Elizabeth M HOLMANS (1894 -1977) and Florence Emily HOLMANS (1895 – 1952). All his siblings got married and had children. It seems the oldest four had six children between them and the youngest two six children each so a lot of descendants.
In the 1891 Census Arthur’s parents and are living at 110 High Street, Deal. The property has apparently been split into three as actually referred to as 110, 110a and 110b. Ellen would be about 7 months pregnant with her first child. The next three appearing within 4 years.
110 High Street, Deal – there is a possibility that the numbers have been redone since 1891 but if not then they were living at what is showing as the No Name Shop, French Delicatessen (now permanently closed it seems)
I think they then moved to 9 College Road in Deal as there seems to be reference to this in a record by “Relrads” on Ancestry.
9 College Road, Deal – the yellow decorated property
Arthur’s birth was then registered Q4 1897 in Eastry District. Haven’t been able to narrow it down any further than that. Also, unable to pick up any of the family on a Census for 1901 despite there being seven forenames to search on.
He was educated at the Parochial and Central Schools until ten years later we find the family living at 5 Alfred Square, Deal. It is most likely that they have stayed around the town the entire time. Arthur is now 15 and an Errand Boy for Grocer’s which may have been for Messrs Methold.
5 Alfred Square, Deal – seems to be the right hand one with scaffolding on
His father has moved up from a Brewer’s Labourer to a Maltsman by this time. Does still seem that he is working for someone else rather than being the employer. The eldest boys are Farm Labourers, the girls are Domestic Servants and the youngest boys are still at school. The family live in an eight-room abode with and have a female lodger.
The main information held regarding Arthur’s military career as a Private is from an extract which was found and posted on Ancestry by a confirmed DNA cousin L. HOLMANS (1953 – date). It appears that he enlisted on 13 August 1914 by lying about his age. Went to France on 01 June 1915 and became a sniper. His number was G/142 and he served in the 6th Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) 1.
Sadly, he was killed a couple of months after his 20th birthday. This was at the Battle of Cambrai in Villers-Plouich on 30 November 1917 which was part of German Counter Attacks. He is buried in Louverval, France and remembered on the Cambrai Memorial there. He was awarded the Victory and British Medals.
His parents were lucky in some ways that they only lost their one child during the war. His brother William also served but made it back home again from Italy. After the war all his remaining siblings settled down and lived their lives.
His parents survived into their 70s with his father William going in 1937 and mother Ellen in 1938. It is possible that they were still living at 5 Alfred Square, Deal until this time.
The family really must have known that bit of Deal very well and been very familiar faces too having spent over 40 years there in the same mile of the High Street.
Arthur George HOLMANS was a 2C 3R on his paternal line. Nearest shared ancestors are my 4x Great Grandparents Benjamin HOLMANS (1797 – 1854) and Elizabeth GRAVES (1797 – 1826).
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
- Forces War Records – https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1980163/private-arthur-george-holmans-british-army-buffs-east-kent-regiment/ ↩︎