TOPIC:

I'm rather chuffed with a pair I acquired recently to 3869 Cpl. F.W. Holman of the A.O.C. (Pte. on the QSA)

The QSA, with clasps Transvaal and Natal is in what seems to be engraved script whilst the KSA is more traditionally impressed.

I've heard it said that the A.O.C. were, in many cases, the unsung heroes of the Boer War but have yet to find any specific details as to what it was exactly that they were up to.

Could Forumites in the know please post any details pertaining to them. My chap was obviously operational in Natal and the Transvaal.

Regards

Rory

Army Ordanance Corp. Supply and repair of technical equipment. Wikipedia has a good explanation of their history. I suppose they would have had the same difficulties the ASC had in moving where were no roads. Enter the RE to build bridges etc. All had a hard time, and without them a modern army could not field soldiers.

Unless you were a Boer, and managed without any of that!

Rory,

A nice pair.

His QSA is verified on WO100/233p37. Only two people on that page have Natal and Tr.

His KSA is on WO100/355p115. A note says he was discharged by purchase on 18 Oct 1902.

His service papers are available:

HOLMAN, Fredick William, born 1880 in Paul, Cornwall. WO97 Chelsea

Please let us know what you find.

Best wishes
David

Thanks David

Herewith is Holman's "write-up" - I try to source Boer War medals, British and/or Colonial issue, where the recipient stayed on and lived and died in the "Colony" of Natal - it makes research that much easier.

Frederick William Holman

Corporal, A.O.C. (Army Ordnance Corps) – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal and Natal
- Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902

Early Years

Fred Holman was born in Paul in the St. Just area of Cornwall in about 1880 the son of William Holman, an Insurance Agent, and his wife Thomasine.

According to the 1881 census the Holman family were resident in Turnpike Road, St. Just. Aside from his parents, 1 year old Fred was joined by older siblings Elizabeth (18); William (14) and Edith (10). If the data is accurate then Thomasine was only 13 years old when she gave birth to her oldest child.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 census, Fred (now a lad of 11) was resident with his grandparents, Charles and Martha Tippet, in St. Just. Of Fred’s father there was no trace, he could have been away on business when the census takers called round. The clue to Fred’s future occupation can be found in the form of his grandfather who was a retired Carpenter.

Enlistment and the Boer War

Blissfully unaware of the storms brewing over the South African Republics which erupted into full scale war in October later that year; Fred attested for service with the Army Ordnance Corps at Woolwich on 11 April 1899. Aged 19 he signed up for Short Service (7 years with the Colours and 5 in the Reserve). His occupation he provided as Carpenter and his employer as Mr. Roberts of St. Just where he had been employed since the age of 14. He claimed to belong to the 1st Cornwall Artillery Volunteers.

Physically Holman was 5 feet 8 ½ inches tall, weighed a slender 122 pounds and had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. A member of the Church of England he had no distinguishing marks about his person. Lt. Colonel Elliot, R.A.M.C. declared him Fit for the army at Bodmin with the caveat that he had an “underdeveloped chest, will grow to standard probably.”
Assigned no. 3869 and the rank of Private, Holman was about to embark on his great adventure.

As alluded to earlier, the Boer War was about to upset the equanimity of world peace. Holman, based in the barracks at Woolwich, was only to get exposure to this conflict after spending 341 days at home when he sailed for South Africa on 17 March 1900.

On arrival he was sent up to the Natal front where his services and that of his colleagues in the A.O.C. were sorely needed. Natal, in March 1900, was still licking its wounds with the disasters of Spioenkop and the Siege of Ladysmith (only recently relieved) still fresh in everyone’s minds.

Holman would now have formed part of Buller’s drive to expel the remaining Boers from Natal earning the Natal clasp to his Queens South Africa Medal in the process. This also confirms that he was in Natal up till and including 11 June 1900.

Now taking the fight to the Boers in the Transvaal Holman and his comrades were active in that region. The campaign in South Africa required the support of very large numbers of troops, animals and equipment in hostile environments and this where the A.O.C. played such an important role. They produced a well-developed system of stores dumps and repair facilities along extended lines-of-communication thereby helping the British troops carry on the fight.

Holman was also awarded the Transvaal clasp to his medal – this confirming that he was in the Transvaal having come up from Natal.

Let us return for a moment to England where, according to the 1901 census, William Holman and his wife Thomasine had been reunited and were now still living in St. Just no doubt anxiously awaiting letters from their son in the Dark Continent.

On 25 September 1901 he was promoted to Lance Corporal

The war in South Africa ended with the Treaty of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902 and most British troops were gradually repatriated to England. Many elected to stay on in the country and many were still deployed in “cleaning up” operations – helping with infrastructural repairs. Holman took his discharge from the army on 18 October 1902, 3 years and 196 days after enlisting. He had decided to settle in South Africa. After parting with £18 he was a free man.

Post war

Holman made his way to Dundee after the war and was resident there for many years. It is also the place where he married sweetheart Ella Prudence Graham.

Having retired as a Carpenter, Holman and his wife betook themselves to Durban which is where he was resident on the day he died, aged 85 years and 11 months, at Addington Hospital on 10 March 1966. The block of flats where he stayed was 135, The Grove, Esplanade, Durban.

Survived by his wife and children Frederick Bruce Holman, Graham William Holman, John Walton Holman and Rosemary Irvine Hames; Fred left a sizable estate (for the times) of R 20 054.

Rory,

A very enjoyable read this morning over a cup of tea. Its great you that have collated so much information on Mr Holman. It adds much to his medals and his memory.

Best wishes
David