• Christine's Great Great Grandparents: Michael Holland and Margaret.
• Great Grandparents: John Holland and Mary Ann Farrell.
• Grandparents: Robert Holland and Millie Whiley

John Holland was born about 1854 at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, the son of Michael Holland and Margaret.

Mary Ann Farrell was born about 1854 in Ireland, perhaps County Sligo; the daughter of William Farrell, painter.

John and Mary Ann married on the 16th January 1872 at Saint Patrick's Church, Bolton, Lancashire. John was a 20 year old Spindle and Fly Maker living in Great Moor Street, Great Bolton; his father Michael Holland, painter. Mary Ann was 19, no occupation recorded, living at 8 Chancery Lane, Great Bolton; her father William Farrell, Tailor. The marriage ceremony was conducted by Dennis Byrne according to the rites of the Catholic Church, by certificate. John signed his name, Mary Ann gave her mark. The witnesses also signed, they were James Coleman and Jane McHugh. John Mather was the Registrar who also has signed the document.

Known children

1. Eliza Jane - born 1872 at Bolton
2. William Charles -  born 1876 at Bolton.
3. John - born 1879 at Bolton, has died during the June quarter 1882, aged 3 years. The 1881 census shows the family living at No 1 Bengal Square North, Great Bolton.
4. Margaret - born 1882 at Bolton
5. Robert  - was born 6th February 1884, at 2 Spring Gardens, Great Bolton. His birth was registered a month later by his mother, showing that the address where he was born was their home. Mary Ann gave her mark on the registration.
6. Sarah -  born 1886 at Bolton
7. Emily - born 1888 at Wroesgate
8. John - born 1890 at Wroesgate. The 1891 census shows the family living in Great Lever.

There may have been other children who have been born, and died, in between census years. There were at least two other families having children in the same registration district at the same time.

I am very pleased to say that I have been contacted by Jackie, a second cousin - her mother's mother being the sister of my grandfather!  Jackie has been living in Bolton, Lancashire until recently, and tells me her mother fondly remembered a visit by her uncle Robert in his Australian Army uniform.  Jackie also tells me that the Farrell family originated in Sligo, Ireland.

Robert Holland (aka Robert Harvey Drummond) was born 6th February 1884, at 2 Spring Gardens, Great Bolton, Lancashire, the son of John Holland and Mary Ann Farrell. His birth was registered a month later by his mother, showing that the address where he was born was their home. Mary Ann gave her mark on the registration. The 1891 census shows the family living in Great Lever, Lancashire, with Robert placed in the middle of seven children.

Family legend has it that Robert, after learning the trade of boot and shoemaking, ran away to sea. Whilst he did end up at sea, it is unlikely that he ran away. On the 14th March 1899 he joined the Royal Navy. Parental permission in writing, the ability to read and write, a character reference from a professional person and a clean record were all requirements before acceptance. There were examinations to be passed, both academic and medical as well as a minimum height requirement. All these preliminaries were carried out at the expense of the parents, so it seems unlikely that Robert had really run away to sea. He was 16 years old.

Royal Navy. On enlistment he was 5' 1" tall (155 cm) with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His only distinguishing mark was a cut over the left eye. His occupation was that of a shoe maker. It was later noted that he had attained the height of 5' 5" (165 cm) by the age of 18. His Port Division was that of Chatham. Robert began his training at the Boys Seaman Training School on the HMS Caledonia ( formerly HMS Impregnable, a wooden walled second rate of 2406 tons built in 1802) which operated in Scotland in the Firth of Forth at Queensferry from 1891 to 1906. The ship accommodated 1000 boys and crew and was anchored a few cables west of the Forth bridge. His basic training lasted nine months, and he was promoted to Boy Seaman First Class on 14th December 1899.

Robert then went to a harbour training ship at Portland, the HMS Minotaur (a 10,690 ton broadside ironclad) until 14th August 1900, and received his first annual character assessment, a Very Good. HMS Minotaur was built as a very long and relatively fast iron-hulled steamer, carrying an extensive sail rig and a large broadside battery of guns. Robert spent the following two months on her sister ship, also used for harbour training, HMS Agincourt, which also had five masts and had her gun deck almost completely coated with iron armor.

Robert was then transferred to HMS Minerva (5600 tons) on the 18th September 1900, spending two years with her, until the end of October 1902. In the 1901 census, he is shown as 17 years old, Boy First Class, stationed at Gibraltar. The Minerva was a masted cruiser of the Eclipse class, they had a larger displacement than previous 2nd class cruisers and also were more heavily armed.

On the 6th December 1901, now being 18 years old, Robert was promoted to Ordinary Seaman to begin his 12 year term of Continuous Service. On the 7th August 1902, he was promoted to Able Bodied Seaman. Also on this date, in the sub-ratings section of his service record it is noted TM, which I believe means Trained Man. He held this subrating until 5th March 1903.

From 1st to 25th November 1902, he spent at the shore base of HMS Pembroke I - the barracks for his Port Division of Chatham. This was the place he regularly returned to in between assignments to ships. Next up was HMS Wildfire, on the 26th November. I believe that HMS Wildfire was a Gunnery School based at Sheerness, Kent. Since his Subrating then changed the following year, it is likely he was doing more training. On the 6th March 1903 he was rated as QG. (I have to find out what this means). He had this rating for a little over three months, then he became a SG - a Seaman Gunner. On the 16th July 1903 - he went back to HMS Pembroke until the 30th September 1904. Robert spent 7 days in the cells 12th -18th May 1904, which appears to have caused his annual character rating that December to be downgraded to Good.

Robert then spent 2 ½ years on the HMS Vulcan, from 1st October 1904 until 30 April 1907; followed by just over three months back at HMS Pembroke 1, two months on HMS Wildfire (during which time his Subrating as Seaman Gunner was refreshed), three weeks Pembroke 1; served on HMS Dido for about six weeks, bringing us up to the end of 1907.

Robert's next ship was his last with the Royal Navy - he joined the HMS Encounter on 1st January 1908, and on the 17th June he jumped ship at Auckland, New Zealand. His name and description was circulated via the New Zealand and Australian Police Gazettes of the day.

  New South Wales Police Gazette - 15th July 1908 

          Deserter from His Majesty's Service.
                       On 17th June, 1908.
    Robert Holland. A.B., 25 years of age, 5 feet 5
    inches high, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion
    (scar over left eye).  A reward of L3 will be paid for 
    the arrest of the abovenamed deserter.

I'm sure that it would make an interesting story to know what happened next, but I may never know. Family legend has it that Robert was an amateur boxer, in a lightweight division, and he won a title in New Zealand. This may be when he first changed his name to Robert Drummond.

The next we hear of Robert after his desertion is on the 30th September 1914, at Sydney, Australia, enlisting for war service.

World War 1.

He is using his real name and stating his birthplace as Bolton, Lancashire. He does not try to hide his Naval training, but states that he bought his way out for twelve pounds after nine years. His occupation is given as a boot and shoemaker. He is now well on the way to being 30 years old. He is 5'5" tall, weighed 11 stone, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His chest measurements is 36 1/2 & 40 inches. His religious denomination is Roman Catholic. His distinctive marks include: Slanting scar left forehead; Vaccinated; Tattoos on right forearm - heart & dart, sailor and flag, the initials RH, AM, shamrock and a bracelet; tattoos on left forearm - flowers & bracelet.

Robert's next of kin is named as his sister - a Nurse S. Holland, her address given as 2 V.S. Thirlmere. This was recorded on the records as being in Bolton, Lancashire, but later amended to Thirlmere, South Coast Line, New South Wales. Her name was never stated, always an initial, and it also appears as Nurse E. Holland. In 1919, her address was updated again, to West Port, Ebsworth Road, Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW.

Robert was appointed, as a Gunner, to the 1st A.D.A.P. - Australian Divisional Ammunition Park. He served a total of 1822 days, 1725 of them spent abroad, being discharged on the 25th September 1919. His file contains good detail. He embarked at Melbourne, Victoria on the HMAT Ceramic almost three months after enlistment, just days before Christmas 1914. I am not sure where he disembarked in England, have yet to find that on his record, but he disembarked from Avonmouth on the SS Saba 12th July 1915, arriving at Rouen, France several days later. At the end of the month he was remustered in France, as a Driver to complete establishment of 17th Divisional Ammunition Sub Park (later the 1st Div. Sub Park). 

It seems that he then developed some nasty haemorrhoids which required an operation in March 1916 at Harcdelor?, and another in January of 1917 at Bolton. Several months later his piles returned, as well as varicose veins in his legs which caused him trouble upon marching. His medical report made at Parkhouse in April, 1918, attributed his active service as only an aggravation to his condition, not the cause. They believed the cause was constitutional and not hereditary, nor due to improper care or conduct on his part. The finding, on the 31st May 1918, was that Robert was permanently unfit for active service, but fit for home service.

In the meantime, from the 26th May, he had been employed in "Q" branch of the Tidmouth headquarters of the AIF Depot. They communicated with the Headquarters at Weymouth, sending Robert to work at the No 2 Command Depot in the Surgical Boot shop, saying they understood that he was a first class tradesman. He reported to duty on the 24th June.

[a little bit more to add here relating to his war service]

1924 - A file is at the National Archives in Canberra, I have requested it to be examined but it may take some months.  Robert applied for assistance from the Department of Repatriation.  These records may give a clue as to why he changed his name.

Millie Whiley was born 2nd November 1903, at Silver Park, Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia - the ninth child, and fourth daughter, of a large family to Isaac Holland Whiley and Anne Phyllis Stone.  (The Holland in her father's name comes from the maiden name of his grandmother)

Family legend has it that Robert was working at timber felling in the area and Millie was a house maid on a large farming property when they met.

Robert and Millie married 24th February 1926 at the Presbyterian Church, Helidon, Queensland, the ceremony performed by William Davidson.    Robert gave his details as Robert Drummond, bachelor, Surgical shoe maker, aged 32, born Queensferry, Fife, Scotland.  He named his parents as John Drummond,  Engineer, and Mary McIntyre.   Millie was aged 22, a Domestic, born Wyalong, Blandshire, New South Wales, her parents recorded as Isaac Holland Whiley, Farmer, and Annie Phyllis Stone.  They were both residing at Main Street, Oakey.   The witnesses were Henry George Chapman and Emma Bouman.

Two years later, which included the births of two daughters, they were living at Cromie Street, Rupanyup, in Victoria. 

On the 26th April 1928, Robert wrote the following letter to the Medal Department, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.  He gave his return address as B Ward, Public Hospital, Horsham, Wimmera and stated that he was Gnr R Holland No 1773 1st D.A.P.

Dear Sir,
Laying here in bed yesterday, I had the pleasure of being at the Big Re.Union "through the wireless" and it has suddenly dawned upon me that I have some medals to collect so would be pleased if you will send same to the above address, I received my 1914 medal some years ago and it reads Gunner R Holland 1773 8th A.A.S.C. it ought to be 1st D.A.P. as we were an artillery detail, however what's in a name.
                                     Thanking you in
                                       Anticipation.
                                             Ys R Holland
I joined up in NSW and got my discharge in Victoria
Oh, it would be much better if you sent them 
    To Mrs R Holland
               Cromie Street
               Rupanyup
               Wimmera
That is my home town
           Thank you                   
[written across bottom right corner]   
I may leave here for some other hospital any day.

It is this handwritten letter, contained in Granddad's WW1 file that is the ultimate proof that I have the same person in WW1 as WW2.   I was really upset when I discovered that I did not have my Scottish heritage after all, but after a few days I began to see the funny side of things.  Eventually, it was Granddad's own words from that letter that soothed me - what's in a name, he had said - what indeed! 

I have no idea why he was in hospital, perhaps he was just getting his varicose veins or haemorrhoids attended to again.  In his WW2 enlistment papers there is mention of an appendix scar, so that could have been the reason.   Anyway, he promptly received his Victory Medal, the receipt bearing the date of 1/5/28.  He signed Robt Holland, and the witness was J. G. Cameron.

Seven years pass, and another six children are born, and one on the way - it is now 7th May 1942 and Robert has gone to Minyip and enlisted for service for WW2.  At this time, the whole family now reverts from the name Drummond to Holland.  My mum was in primary school and can just remember this happening, and the other children's questioning over the name change.  Mum was too young to understand, and she agreed with some kids who said that her mother must have remarried.

World War 11

On enlistment, Granddad said that he was born 6th February 1888, Queensferry, Scotland.  His current occupation was that of an Linesman with the PMG.  He was a Presbyterian.  He was married, his wife being Millie Holland of Rupanyup.  His hair was grey, his eyes blue.  His distinctive marks an appendix scar.  No mention of tattoos, nor scar on his forehead, but it is only a very small line on the form.  He claims his previous military service, as a 1st Class Seaman Gunner in the Royal Navy, and a Gunner with the 1st D.A.P in the last war.
He was assessed as having a Reserved Occupation, being a Postal Services Linesman.  The examining medical officer declared him to be fit enough for Class 1 service, in a special unit. Thus, on 17th December 1942, he became V375895 Signalman Robert Holland,  Part Time Service, as a member of 3 Australian L of C Signals (P.M.G.) based in Richmond.
12th April 1943, Robert signed a Statuary Declaration to the effect that his correct surname was Drummond, and his files were changed accordingly a few days later.

From 25th September to 9th October 1943, he was called up for Full Time Duty to attend 2nd AA Training School at Seymour, No 24.  On completion he is returned to Part Time duty.

A year later, 13th September 1944, Graded Group 2 Linesman.
Five months later, 19th February 1945, Robert is placed on reserve, where he remains until his discharge on the 17th January 1947.  

12th January 2008