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Remembered Today:

Gordon Herbert Holt Architect of Soissons Memorial Service Record?


David_Blanchard

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I looking to find more information concerned with Gordon Holt who was one of the architects responsible for the Soissons Memorial.

From Jonathan Black's book on Eric Kennington, Holt served in the Great War, but which unit?

From other sources I believe his middle name was Herbert.

On Ancestry there is a 2nd Lieut. Gordon Herbert Clementson George Holt pictured as part of the Royal Aero club Aviators Certificate- information on the photograph states it was taken in December 1916 and he was in the RFA.

Is this Holt the architect? I cannot find a MIC

David

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It would seem that 2nd Lt. Gordon Herbert Clementson George Holt, R.F.A., born Hastings, 1889, on the Royal Aero Club Certificate and Gordon Herbert Holt, architect, are one and the same.

In the 1911 census listed at (the writing is difficult to read, but looks like) Munster, Montefine Rd., Hove was a Herbert Gordon Holt, 21, single, architect, described as "son", born Hastings, Sussex.

The head of the household was Gertrude Gerlach, 45, married, suffrage worker, born Greenwich.

There were no other Holt's at the address.

There is a birth registration on ancestry of Herbert Gordon C. Holt 1889 quarter 3 Hastings, Sussex District. So it would appear that he changed the order of his Christian names.

His collaborator, and fellow prize winner, on the Soissons Memorial project, was Verner Owen Rees (1886-1966) who also served in WW1, as a commissioned officer in the Stationery Service. A medal index card exists for him under the name of "Viner" O. Rees, but see the gazette link confirming his name as Verner Owen Rees-

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29577/supplements/4668

This may be of additional interest.

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Harr,

Thank you for taking the time to have a good look for this enquiry, and also the additional references to Verner Rees- I had as serving in the Artists Rifles, somewhere!

Regards

David

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Looking at the Gazette trail for G. H. C. G. Holt you get the impression that perhaps he did not fly on active service which would be an explanation as to why there appears to be no M.I.C.

Gazetted 2nd Lt. in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery 31.5.1915.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29187/supplements/5600

Flying Officer and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps Gen. List 4.9.1917

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30307/supplements/9950

R.F.C. promoted temp. Lt., Gen. List 1.7.1917

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30520/supplements/1918

R.A.F. Lt., transferred to the unemployed list 12.2.1919

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31315/pages/5345

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