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G. S. Holder

War dead, WW1 i

Commemorated on a memorial as having died in WW1.

G. S. Holder

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Able Seaman George Stephen Holder.      Born in 1872 in Dover, Kent, the son of Benjamin James and Rosina Hannah Holder.  In April 1891 he was serving on board H.M.S. St. Vincent, a boys training ship in Portsmouth Harbour. He married Louisa Hanagan on the 1st April 1899 at Holy Trinity Church, Dover. In November 1904 he was appointed as a Postman in London North District. In March 1911 he was boarding at 29 High Street, Old Brompton, Chatham, Kent and gave his occupation on the census as a Postman. He joined the Royal Navy, service number 154330, RFR/CH/B 20778, and on the 22nd September 1914 he was serving aboard H.M.S. Aboukir, one of three old British cruisers that were patrolling the North Sea in support of a force of destroyers which blocked the eastern end of the English Channel from German warships attempting to attack the supply route between England and France. At around 6am the three cruisers were steaming at 10 knots in line ahead and they were spotted by the U-9, commanded by Lt. Otto Weddigen who ordered his submarine to submerge and closed the range to the unsuspecting British ships. At close range, he fired a single torpedo at H.M.S. Aboukir and broke its back. She sank within 20 minutes with the loss of 527 men including Able Seaman Holder who was aged 42 years.. The captains of the other two cruisers H.M.S. Cressy and H.M.S. Hogue thought the Aboukir had struck a floating mine and came forward to assist her. They stood by and began to pick up survivors. At this point, Weddigen fired two torpedoes into the Hogue, mortally wounding that ship. As the Hogue sank, the captain of the Cressy realised that the squadron was being attacked by a submarine, and tried to flee. However, Weddigen fired two more torpedoes into the Cressy, and sank her as well. The bulk of the blame at the subsequent court of enquiry, was directed at the Admiralty for persisting with a patrol that was dangerous and of limited value against the advice of senior sea-going officers. Probate of his estate was granted to his widow who was living at 31 Market Street, Paddington. His effects totalled £70 10s. He is also commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
G. S. Holder

Commemorated ati

Western Postal District war memorial - Rathbone Place

The plaque does not point out that not all of the WW2 names were in the armed...

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