The Soldier's Details

 

Photo taken January 2018, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

 

Norm’s parents Henry ‘Hugh’ Holdman and Elizabeth Baker from Albany married at Claremont in 1907. It is believed Norm was one of three children. He had one sister and a brother. His father Hugh Holdman was a public servant and during 1920’s the family lived at Gosnells. In 1930’s the Holdman family was residing at McCourt St, Wembley where they remained for a long time.

As a young man Norm joined the Australian Naval Reserves.

The 1930’s Depression hit Western Australia and Norm moved interstate to find work. He was recorded living at Mildura and working as a miner. He met and married Grace Ellen McConnell and in 1936 the couple were recorded residing at ‘Round Plain Station’ Balranald, NSW. Norm was a station-hand.
Their first son was born here and sadly died at Balranald.

When the young couple moved back to Western Australia with their second son Allan who lived with his Grandparents in McCourt St, Wembley while Lofty and Ellen lived and worked in the country where conditions were pretty rough.  They were to tragically lose Allan who died at the age of 4 years.   In 1937 the family were recorded residing at McCourt Street, Wembley with Lofty’s parents.  Their third son Ross was born and it was while Lofty was in SA 1941 training with 2/4th that fourth son Trevor was born.

The reason Norm went AWOl at Fremantle – to see his new born son his wife and Ross.  Read about being AWOL and Java

There is little doubt Norm and Grace Holdman together and each faced many challenges during the Depression of 1930s and it was probably the reason Norm enlisted with the army, to provide stability and regular income for his family.  Enilstment seemed like a good option when work was hard to find.

When  ‘Aquitania’ anchored off Fremantle Lofty went AWL with a large number of 2/4th men.  He wanted to see his new son Trevor,  wife Ellen and Ross.    He was unable to re-board  Aquitania prior its departure on 16th January 1941.

 

Grace Ellen McDonnell remarried in 1946 to Lofty’s first cousin Cecil Davey and the family moved to Davey’s orchard at Pickering Brook.  Ellen died in 1990.

Ross Holdman became a mechanic, married and had 4 daughters. Trevor and his wife Roslyn Holdman took up farming at Jerramungup in 1964.  Amongst their neighbours were 2/4th’s Colin Cameron and McLennan families.  Trevor had 3 sons.

Lofty never saw his sons growing up and did not met his seven grandchildren.

Whilst at Northam Army Camp, Lofty Holdman was champion in his boxing class.  (This information from Noel Bell April, 2018 – Bell and Holdman are related.  Noel Bell is the husband of Patricia Bell (nee Fraser) daughter of WX6506 James Eric Fraser).

 

 

 

 

Please read diary of Bill Struthers

 

It is not known if ‘Baldy’ and ‘Lofty’ did manage to meet up in Singapore during those two days in October 1942, we certainly hope so. The two friends had enlisted in August 1940 and became Drivers at Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon.

Lofty survived the hellish conditions of working on the Burma-Thailand Railway with Williams Force during the monsoons and speedo.  Working conditions were horrific, they had little food and medicine and were at the mercy of their spiteful and sadistic Japanese and Korean guards.  Whilst at Kanchanaburi he was selected for Japan (probably Awa Maru Party) in 1945.   His work party was directed through Bangkok supposedly to sail to Japan.  While working at the go-downs, Bangkok wharves ‘Lofty’ was tragically killed in an Allied Air Raid 27 Mar 1945 aged 34 years.

Of the scant records for Williams Force we can see Lofty’s hospital records:

40 Km Hospital – admitted 2 July 43 with diarr.

to 30 Km Hospital 22 Jul 43

Tamarkan Camp No. 2 arrd 29 Feb 1944.  Marched Out

Marched in No. 3 Camp Kanchanaburi 14 Mar 1944

Marched out to No. 1 Camp Tamarkan 9 Apr 44 ( Left for Japan via Saigon)

Read further about ‘A’ Force Java Party No. 4 Williams Force

‘Baldy’ Philp, (William Hawksley Philp) WX7902 who had been working on the Railway with ‘D’ Force which undertook some of the most demanding and dangerous work on the Railway, tragically died  of malaria at Kuii in September 1943.

Below: copy of official letter with listing of Holdman and his death.

 

 

March 1948.