Clifford HOLLEY

Regimental number538
Place of birthHuntspill, Somerset, England
SchoolCounty Council Schools, Huntspill, Somerset, England
Age on arrival in Australia19
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTelephone erector
AddressSouthbrook, Toowoomba, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 9.5"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs. Eliza Holley, Southbrook, Toowoomba, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date29 June 1915
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 9 November 1915
Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular'Had learnt the Engine driving on the Somerset and Dorset Railway before he left England. After arrival in Australia started dairying and working on the land. Buried at Sailleys Sur-la-ly Cemetery.' Details from Mother.
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Age at death25
Place of burialAnzac Cemetery (Plot II, Row J, Grave No. 3), Sailly-Sur-Lys, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
118
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Frederick (deceased, Huntspill, somerset, England) and Eliza HOLLEY, Palmwoods, Queensland. Native of Huntspill, Somerset, England
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 3328 Pte Bertie HOLLEY, 15th Bn, killed in action, 11 April 1917; 537 Pte Henry James HOLLEY, 31st Bn, returned to Australia, 9 February 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, ex-HMT 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915.

Appointed Lance Corporal, Moascar, 6 June 1916.

Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, 10 June 1916 (pyrexia of unknown origin); transferred to No 24 Stationary Hospital, Moascar, 12 June 1916 (sick, severe); discharged to unit, 14 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19 July 1916.

Previous report of missing, now, 28 July 1916, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Buried Sailly-sur-La-Lys Cemetery by Reverend W. Meredith Holliday, 20 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1360111, 453 Pte H.J. HUDSON, 31st Bn, 28 August 1916: 'I knew L/Cpl. Holley and I was told by a mate that he had seen Holley's dead body in No Man's Land on the 19th. July at Fleurbaix, about 7.30-8 p.m. L/Cpl. Holley's borhter, H.J. Holley, has recently told me that his brother was dead and his disc had been brought in from No Man's Land.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsMother's address subsequently Rosedale Farm, Wyreema, via Toowoomba, Queensland (2 November 1916); then, c/o Mr Buchanan, Bellavesta, Mullumbimby; then, c/o Mrs McAuliffe, Margaret Street, Toowoomba, Darling Downs, Queensland (15 March 1921); then, corner of Green Street and Tingal Road, Wynnum, Queensland (7 November 1921); Palmwoods, North Coast Line, Queensland (20 October 1922)
SourcesNAA: B2455, HOLLEY Clifford
Red Cross file 1360111