For the second time I seem to have found a long standing injustice done to a man whose name appears on the Ibstock memorial. At first, I just accepted that there were two Robert Hollands listed in SDGW and on CWGC amongst the casualties from Ibstock. I was even as blind to think the name appeared twice on the memorial itself while I was busy collating my lists. Of course, when I checked the memorial images the two consecutive names are Robert Holland and Robert Hollard. But that still left me with two candidates for Robert Holland, while Robert Hollard remained a mystery.

It wasn't until the 1911 census became available that the existence of someone of that name in Ibstock could be even verified. But there he was, eighteen years old and born in London, living and working in Ibstock.

My search of service papers had only found one of the two Robert Hollands the CWGC had lead me think died in the war. I could kick myself, but it was only after reviewing some of these papers that what should have been obvious from the start finally hit home.

The solution to the puzzle was simple, the Army had got Robert Hollard's name wrong. He had become Robert Holland to them. The evidence is there for all to see, but who in all these long years has ever bothered to look? On the attestation form Private 21105 had signed his name "Robert Hollard".

Everywhere else, bar one, his name is recorded as Robert Holland. The only other paper were his name could be read as "Robert Hollard" is on the "Effects Form.118" completed by hand from the officer in charge Infantry Records York to Robert's universal legatee Mrs. Polly Iliffe.

It was suggested to me that Robert Hollard may have known and agreed to the Army changing his name. But I find that difficult to believe, particularly as this was a young man who had a bad start in life. Someone who I believe may not have had the education, self-esteem or confidence to challenge authority.

Robert William Hollard's birth was registered in Wandsworth Surrey (long since part of Greater London) in the last quarter of 1892. What was probably his sister Louisa's birth had also been registered in Wandsworth Surrey in the first quarter of 1890. In the 1901 census, Robert Hollard is found as a pauper inmate in the North Surrey District School, Penge.. Robert Hollard had either been abandoned or given up by a mother who was destitute.

He had attested on 1st December 1915 at Coalville, giving his address as 124,Hight Street Ibstock. On Robert Hollard's "Descriptive Report of Enlistment" the NOK entry reads " Ellen Holland, address unknown, mother". In fact, Robert's universal legatee is his landlady Mrs. Polly Iliffe of 124, High Street Ibstock. It is Polly Iliffe who fills in the Army Form W5080 in order to receive Robert's plaque and scroll. For relationship she writes on the form, "Landlady" and adds "the only home he knew". It is counter-signed by the rector of Ibstock on 1st April 1922 over five years after Robert Hollard had been killed in action on 23 October 1916.

Not only is Robert's surname incorrect in the CWGC register but on his gravestone too. The CWGC would rightly say their records are based on the name his was known by in the Army. My contention is that this all derived from a clerical error, which for whatever reason has never been challenged.

I passed the case to Terry Denham recently and hope one day that the CWGC will agree to the honour the Wandsworth pauper who had found some kind of home in Ibstock by his right name.