Henry Albert Houlding

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

11370

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Farringdon Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

Colborne Street Methodist Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

19 Murray Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

76 Dufferin Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Machinery expert

Employer:

Massey-Harris Co.

Religious denominations:

Wesleyan

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 3, 1915

“This Is Not War But Murder” Wrote Private Harry Houlding Telling of the Devastating Effect of the British Artillery

Were at Neuve Chapelle

That the Canadians in part at least, were in the battle of Neuve Chapelle the most terrific in the history of the British race is indicated in a letter received from Pte. Henry Albert Houlding by his sister Mrs. Frank Leeming, 78 Dufferin Avenue. The letter was written before the writer was wounded in the battle of Ypres, word of which was received here on Saturday. The battle was witnessed in large part by the writer, who terms the fighting "not war, but murder," owing to the terrible destructiveness of the machinery of the present day as exemplified by the British artillery. Two days the guns roared clearing the way for the successful advance of the British infantry. The letter in part reads as follows, personal matters having been omitted:

April 11, 1915

Dear Sister,

It won't be long now before we are in the thick of it and I hope that it won't last very long either, for I tell you this isn't war but murder. With the artillery we have now, and other instruments of war, there is nothing which can stand against them and all you can call it is murder. At Neuve Chapelle the artillery worked for two days on the Germans before we advanced, and they could be seen begging for mercy.

The life in the trenches is at first exciting, but you soon get used to it and then it is very monotonous. At night we are very busy working on the parapet of the trench, and it is certainly rather funny, for just about 100 yards from us the Germans are also on top of their trenches working, and you can hear the fellows talking back and forth to each other. Then in the daytime you can't show your head above the trench for their snipers are surely good shots. You can watch some very interesting duels between one of their snipers and one of ours. We had very good luck while in the trenches, and all of the duels I witnessed were won by our boys, so now the Germans have some respect for our 'rusty Ross' as they call our rifle.

We feed very good in the trenches – have jam, butter, bully beef, bacon and tea, so you see we shouldn't get very thin.

I saw my first Zeppelin today and they are certainly a wonderful machine, but they are no match for the aeroplane, which is so much faster and can mount higher. We haven't witnessed any duels in the air yet, but am hoping to see one before we finish.

We generally get billeted in barns and make ourselves comfortable. We get a bath and change of clothing about once a week,

Your Brother,
Harry

BX May 10, 1915

Word Received From Boys Who Were Wounded – Local Relatives Received Reassuring Letters by This Morning’s Mail – Cpl. Orr, Pte. Kerr and Pte. Houlding Will Soon Rejoin Their Regiments – Little News About the Fight

Mrs. F. Leeming, Dufferin Avenue, received reassuring news about her brother, Pte. H. Houlding officially reported wounded. One letter came from Capt. Towse of the Gordon Highlanders, and the other from Houlding himself. The letter from Capt.Towse follows:

April 24, 1915
The Australian Hospital,
Mimereux, near Boulogne,
France

Mrs. F. Leeming,

Dear Madam,

I am writing at the request of your brother, Pte. H. Houlding, of the 4th Battalion, 1st Canadians, who is at present an inmate of the above hospital and who is doing very well.

He was admitted this morning suffering from a wound in the left shoulder. I can assure you that he is in very capable hands and that he will receive every care and attention possible, both for his health and comfort.

He sends you his very best remembrances and is sorry that he cannot at present write himself.

I have not yet got your address from your brother, but if you are in England, a letter to the above address (if posted by return) would in all probability catch him.

Yours truly,

E.B.B. Towse (Capt.)
The Gordon Highlanders

Under date of April 27, Houlding himself wrote as follows:

April 27, 1915

Dear Sister,

Don’t be worrying about me as my wound is not serious, just shot through the left shoulder and I was surely ever lucky to get off so easy, when so many of our boys were killed. I have not many of my old chums left now. I don’t know who all are gone, but they all are either wounded or killed. Believe me we surely had one terrible day and I assure you, I never want another like it. I can’t write much about it, so will turn off on other subjects. This hospital is the famous Oxford University. There is over 800 beds altogether, and now it is nearly full. The nurses, or sisters as they are called here, are fine and so good to us, and say, the people here are dandy to us, but when you consider what we have gone through I guess we deserve a little bit of kindness. I tell you I’m proud of being a Canadian now, for we did a job which the Imperial troops claim was the most difficult they ever witnessed, and they have been through the worst fighting of the war. But sister I want to go home now, for I consider I have done my little bit and hope to not have to go through another day such as that was. Tell all my friends to write, addressing me

Pte. H. Houlding
4th Batt., Can. Regt. B. Co.,
Masonic Ward,
3rd Southern General Hospital,
Oxford

BX May 3, 1915

Mrs. Frank Leeming, 78 Dufferin Avenue, on Saturday received information through the casualty office at Ottawa, that her brother, Henry Albert Houlding 11370, a member of the 4th Battalion, had been wounded. No further particulars were given, the telegram being of the same wording as other such telegrams which have come through on such errands.

Harry “Happy” Houlding is a very popular member of a well-known family in Brantford, his chief characteristic, perhaps being his continued cheerfulness, which greatly adds to his value as a soldier. He had been a member of the Dufferin Rifles for two years previous to the war, and when the latter broke out and a call was issued for volunteers he responded. He was a great chum of Cpl. Herbert Orr, and when the news of the latter’s wounding was received, Mrs. Leeming remarked that “Harry is wounded, too,” which has proved to be only too true.

Private Houlding was employed at the Massey-Harris works, and is a member of Harmony Lodge, I.O.O.F. He is unmarried. He is a son of the late James Houlding. Mrs. Leeming is the only sister residing here, though there are other sisters and brothers scattered widely over the Dominion. Harry is the youngest of the family.

BX May 12, 1915

Harmony Men Wounded

Three of Harmony Lodge’s I.O.O.F., representatives at the front has been mentioned in the casualty list as far as known, these being Lange Corporal James Dockray, Private Edward Easton Hooper and Private Joseph Robinson. Private Henry Albert Houlding, of Gore Lodge, was also wounded. The death of Corp. Claude Fraser Charlton, of Mohawk Lodge, is keenly felt in local Oddfellowship circles, the late brother having proved himself a decided credit to the organization.

BX October 26, 1915

Bullet Wound in Forehead – Pte. H. Houlding Again Wounded in Trenches – Sniper Got Him

Pte. Harry Houlding, 4th Battalion, who but recently had returned to the trenches after having recovered from a bullet through the shoulder, has been shot again, this time, through the forehead.

Mrs. Frank Leeming, Dufferin Avenue, this morning received a cablegram, notifying her that her brother Pte. Harry Houlding, better known as “Happy,” had been taken to the hospital at Boulogne, France, with a gunshot wound in the head.

Pte. Houlding had a fear that this would happen. Mrs. Leeming on Oct. 3, received a letter from him in which he stated that he was back in the trenches, and that they were too small for him, and as a result his head kept bobbing up over parapets. Evidently some sniper watched and on one of these occasions put a bullet through his head.

Pte. Houlding was first wounded on April 23 and was taken to the hospital where he remained for two months. He later reported at Shorncliffe Camp, where he remained until Sept. 1 when he went over to France to rejoin his old regiment, the 4th Battalion, having left here with Capt. M.A. Colquhoun and his squad of Dufferin Rifles.

BX October 27, 1916

Invalided Men Returning Home

A list of invalided soldiers, who landed at Quebec yesterday from the steamer Ascania, was received by The Expositor shortly after noon today. The list included the name of H. Houlding, 36th Battalion. This is believed to be Harry Houlding, brother of Mrs. Frank Leeming of this city, who left with the 4th Battalion

Mrs. Leeming stated that while the word was not definite, she understood that Harry had arrived in Toronto this morning. She believed that he was not returning invalided, but as one of an escort for some of the others who were wounded. Harry, who was wounded some time ago, had spent some months in the hospital, but since that he had written to the effect that he was going to France again.

BX October 30, 1916

Five Returned Heroes are Home on Furlough – Sergeants. Stodden and Pilley and Privates Houlding, Batson and Taylor – Acted as Escort

Five more Brantford heroes, Sergeants Stodden and Pilley and Privates Harry Houlding, George Batson and Taylor, all of whom have been wounded, returned to the city on Saturday evening on a short furlough. These men all came back as an escort of soldiers whose minds have given way under the strain of war.

All five men were members of the original Fourth Battalion, and all wear the gold stripes which quietly acclaim the fact that they have been wounded. Pte. Houlding, who is a brother of Mrs. Frank Leeming, was wounded three times and spent some months in the hospital. He was first wounded at Ypres in April of last year, then again in October, and in December he received two more wounds during bombardments.

All of the five men are now much better and after they reach England, which they will do by November 25, they will return to France again.

That it is figured at the front that no more than 17 of the original Fourth Battalion, both officers and men, remain was a remark made by Pte. Houlding. He was born and brought up in Brantford and was greeted all along the street by old friends this morning.

Private George Batson is a son of Mrs. James Batson, 111 Murray Street. He was wounded last May and has since been in a convalescent home at Epsom, England, Sergt. G. Pilley formerly resided at 124 Spring Street. He is a married man and prior to enlisting had eight years service with the Welsh regiment and three years with the 38th D.R.S. Sergeant Stodden’s home is at 102 Aberdeen Street. He is also a married man and laborer. He was for 16 years a member of the 16th Dragoon Guards.

BX December 22, 1917

Among the Returned

Members of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission meet at the depot this morning Sergeant “Happy” Houlding, thrice wounded in the early part of the war while with the Mad Fourth. Sergeant Houlding was home last fall and wintered with the 215th, with which battalion he won his stripes. He left last April with the 215th and has now come home for discharge.

BX December 22, 1917

Returned Men

A number of returned soldiers were due to arrive home at 5.45 this morning, but only Sergeant Harry Houlding and G. Caswell of this city arrived. Pte. Caswell left here with the Second Dragoons, Aug. 7, 1915, and has been twice wounded, first on Oct. 7, 1916 and later Nov. 29, 1916. He formerly resided with his parents at 102 Marlboro Street. Among the other soldiers due to arrive are Fred Avery and George Bissett of this city, also Thomas Billings, Paris. Bissett was Quartermaster Sergeant of the 36th Battalion and left here with Col. Ashton in March, 1915.

BX April 10, 1917

Wedding Bells

Houlding – Simpson

A quiet wedding was solemnized by Rev. G.A. Woodside, pastor of Zion Presbyterian church, on Friday last, when Sergeant Harry Houlding, veteran of the “Mad Fourth” Battalion, was united to Miss Lulu Simpson, nurse at the Brantford General Hospital.

BX August 8, 1955

Harry Houlding Died Suddenly

Harry (Hap) Houlding, former Brantford postman and well-known here died suddenly Sunday in the Brantford General Hospital. He resided at 473 Colborne Street.

Mr. Holding, who was in his 69th year, was born in Brantford and resided here all his life.

He was a veteran of the First World War, serving overseas with the Mad Fourth Battalion. In 1925 he joined the Post Office staff and retired in 1952.

Mr. Houlding was past president of SPEBSQSA Incorporated, a member of the Telephone City Branch of the Canadian Legion and an active member of Colborne Street United Church, having served as a member of the board of stewards as an elder.

Besides his widow, the former Lulu (Simmie) Simpson, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. John (Carmen) McKibbon, London, Ont.; two brothers, Lewis Houlding, Miami, Fla., and William Houlding, Winnipeg; one sister Mrs. Lillian Leeming, Simcoe, and two grandchildren, Jim and Jane McKibbon, London.

He is resting at the Hill and Robinson Funeral Home until Wednesday for service in the chapel at 3.30 p.m. Interment will be in Farringdon Burial Ground.

BX August 11, 1955

Harry Houlding

The funeral service for Harry (Hap) Houlding was conducted Wednesday afternoon at the Hill and Robinson chapel. Rev. Arthur E. Kewley, of Brant Avenue Untied Church, officiated. Relatives and friends, officials and postmen of the Local Post Office, and the executive and members of SPEBSQSA attended. Pallbearers were Alfred Fitness, Robert Turnbull, Arthur O’Connor, Arnold Cowan, Robert Girdlestone and George Bustard. Interment was in Farringdon Burial Ground.