General News
24 April, 2022
Brothers in arms
AT POZIERES, France on August 8, 1916, two brothers from Aloomba suffered the horror of bloody warfare in the trenches.
Charles and Walter Ernest Hollamby were both in the 15th Battalion which was part of the Somme offensive led by the British.
The older brother, Charles, was 23 years of age when he enlisted on January 21, 1915. Walter joined up 10 months later at the tender age of 18.
Charles had already seen plenty of action by the time Walter had enlisted. He had been wounded while fighting with the 15th Battalion “Delta” on August 7, 1915, at Gallipoli.
His regiment was stationed at Suvla Bay on the south-western crest of the Kaiajik Dere and their position was exposed and vulnerable with Turkish snipers nearby. Charles was one of 7 officers wounded. There were 30 dead.
The family in Aloomba were notified on August 18, 1915:
“Corporal C Hollamby shrapnel wound neck admitted First Australian General Hospital Heliopolis 11th August. Will advise upon receipt further particulars.”
Charles recovered from his wounds and rejoined his battalion at Alexandria on Christmas Day 1916.
Walter, still in Australia, received the rank of Private on March 27, 1916, and left Queensland on the Star of Victoria three days later.
On April 5, 1916, Charles was promoted to Sergeant. It is possible the brothers enjoyed a reunion at Alexandria when Walter was transferred to the 15th Battalion on May 21, 1916, after arriving at Serapeum.
The brothers travelled from Alexandria to France aboard the Transylvania on June 1, 1916. They disembarked at Marseilles seven days later and proceeded to Pozieres.
On August 8, 1916, Walter is tragically killed in action on the field near Pozieres. Charles is wounded for the second time. He has gunshot wounds to his jaw and chest and is transferred to Hospital at Perham Downs on September 29, 1916. Charles remained in England until December 5, 1917.
He returned to France via Southampton and rejoined the 15th Battalion at Havre on December 10.
Charles Hollamby was killed in action on July 4, 1918. His personal effects were sent home to his grieving family. Contents of the parcel were: “Wallet, YMCA Wallet, Photos, Metal cigarette case, Note case, Letters.”
On October 18, 1928, the family were advised that Walter’s remains had been exhumed from the battlefields near Ponzieres and had been interred at the Serre Road Cemetery.
Sources: National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Cairns District Family History Society, TROVE, National Library of Scotland.
