252125 Pte. Frederick E.W. Holland British Army 17th (1st Glamorgan) Battalion Welch Regiment from:Maindee, Newport (d.24th April 1917) Mum's family, the Hollands, were told that their son, Fred Holland was missing, killed in action. Two of his sisters and one of his brothers each named one of their children after him. Fast forward to 2016 and his sister Dolly's family received a letter regarding a service to have his remains to be reburied in Fifteen Ravine Commonwealth Graves Cemetery, outside the French village of Villers Plouich.
Having believed that their uncle's body was never found Des and Tony Fowler went to the ceremony and were thrilled and amazed to hear how Shaun McGuire, whose passion was trying to locate missing deceased Welsh war service personnel, was walking through the cemetery along a line of The Welch Regiments headstones, when he noticed that the 30 headstones all commemorated men who died on the same date 24th of April 1917. Of the 30, 29 had their names inscribed on them but one did not. He researched the regiment's action on this date and found that there were 30 casualties during an attack on the Hindenburg Line and these were their graves. He gave his information to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who, after investigation, confirmed that this was the grave of Pte. Fred Holland who had later died of his wounds.
He was given a full military service. All thanks to Shaun McGuire who I believe currently lives in Shewsbury.
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