Cpl. Albert Joseph Holtom
British Army 2nd Btn. Parachute Regiment
from:Birmingham
Albert Holtom was attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment at its inception. Initially in HQ Coy as a Cook, he earned his wings and maroon beret when he attended the Parachute Course No 15 at Ringway, before seeing active service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, where he was awarded the Africa Star with First Army Clasp, and the Italy Star.
On returning from North Africa, he transferred to A Coy, serving under Lt Robin Vlasto of No. 1 Platoon. Accounts differ as to whether he fought at Arnhem, but he was awarded the France and Germany Star, and couldn't have earned it anywhere else. Unfortunately, this was not dispatched along with his other medals when they were claimed, posthumously, by his son in 2019. If he did fight at Arnhem, he was one of the 17 survivors from A Coy to be rescued during operation Berlin on 25th-26th of September 1944. This was the story he took to his final resting place, peacefully, in 2003.
He was good friends with Cpl Robert Priesley and Cpl Tom Hastings, both of A Coy, and both taken PoW at Arnhem. I would love to hear from family members of either of them.
