Richard Holt

Richard Holt (Service No 6271) was born in Bristol, England, around 1872.

on his enlistment forms, Richard stated that he was 44 years old, single, and a miner, and that he lived at Port Kembla, N.S.W.  Richard also stated that he had served 20years and 5 months in the Gloucestireshire Infantry Battalion.  It is unclear if this service was full time or Militia.

Richard embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A14 Euripides with 20th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion on 9th September 1916.  The troops arrived in England on 26th October 1916 and Richard was sent on to France, arriving on 8th February 1917.

The 13th Battalion were engaged in the battle for Bullecourt and a number of the Battalion were captured and taken prisoner by the Germans on 11th April 1917, one of whom was Richard Holt.

While a prisoner of war, Richard became ill, suffering from bronchitis & dysentery, and was hospitalised at Kreigs Lazarette Mon/ War Hospital, Girls School, Mons.  Richard did not recover and died as a prisoner of war.  One of Richard's fellow soldiers testifed that 'He [Richard] died from neglect and starvation at Mons Hospital'.

Richard is buried in Mons Communal Cemetery, Belgium; Plot IV, Row B, Grave 7.