Cann and Shaftesbury from Melbury Hill

Herbert John Holly

Surname: Holly
Other names: Herbert John
Other people in this story:
Mark Holly
Harriet Holly née Smith
Winifred Beatrice Holly née Gaisford
Harry Percival Holly
Ernest Walter Holly
Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shroton, Dorset
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Iwerne Mintser, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Herbert John Holly was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th December 1892 and baptised there on 5th March 1893, the son of Mark Holly and Harriet Holly (née Smith).   He spent his early life in and around the Melbury Abbas and Cann Common area.  He enlisted and served successively with the Dorsetshire Regiment (service No. 25813), the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 52660) and the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 30396).  His rank in all cases was Private.  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, working as a Baker for Ernest Otto of Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury.  He married Winifred Beatrice Gaisford at Shroton, Dorset, in 1923.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 The Corner, Blandford, Dorset, still working as a Baker.  He died in Shroton on 2nd October 1983. 

Herbert's brother, Harry Percival Holly (b.1891) also served and survived but his brother Ernest Walter (b.1895), died in the conflict while serving with the Royal Army Service Corps in Greece.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Harry Percival Holly
Ernest Walter Holly
The National Archives