253415 Pte. Albert Fletcher Holt British Army 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment from:Bolton Albert Holt served initially in 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment as a Gunner and was already in the Army when war broke out.
He subsequently transferred the 7th Battalion, Tank Corps serving as part of the 1st Tank Brigade.
His unit was captured at Toulouse on 12th of April 1918 and he was taken to Gardelegen, one of the worst disease ridden camps. It was so bad that the Germans lived off site and left the prisoners to fend for themselves regarding sickness. His POW number there was 9700.
When the war ended and the soldiers were repatriated, Albert was among those who passed through Braine le Chateau in Belgium, where they were entertained to a banquet hosted by the Countesses (the de Ursels of Hingene of Chateau le Yonhuys) and The Mayor and Inhabitants.
Albert was an artist and painted a Centurion Tank on a hammered out Bully Beef can for The Countess Daisy, using her paints. In return, she gifted him those paints. The original carry case containing the spent paint tubes, is still in the possession of his descendants.
Albert served as an ARP warden in the Second World War and he was also a Fire Watcher at The Bolton Methodist Mission. He worked as a painter and decorator and spent time in Liverpool camouflaging the ships.
Albert died in his 86th year in 1971.
|