W G Hollingsworth Lancashire Fulsiliers

Hello
I am doing research on the above who is on a war memorial at my work in Edinburgh and i have now found out is on a memorial in Salford.
I am a bit puzzled how he was in the Lancashire Fusiliers when he and the family came from the Hansdsworth area of Birmingham.
He died in 1944 and is remembered at Kohima in India.

 

Ok cheers

 

Also makes a difference being an officer.

Captain. Wilfred George Hollingsworth.

Rank: Captain

Service No:149293

Date of Death: 28/04/1944 (Born 1909)

Age: 34

Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers /8th Bn.

Grave Reference: 1. A. 12.

Cemetery:

KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Edward Humphrey Vincent and Florence Maria Hollingsworth, of Birmingham

husband of Constance Josephine Hollingsworth, of Streetly, Birmingham.
1908 - 1990 married in 1936.

 

I am assuming this is him?

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2601548/HOLLINGSWORTH,%20WILFRID%20GEORGE
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18858985&ref=acom

When doing your research you need to be aware that his name appears to be spelt differently from time to time.

GRO Birth Register Q4 1909, West Bromwich
Hollingsworth, Wilfred George

GRO Marriage Register Q3 1936, Birmingham
Hollingsworth, Wilfrid G

GRO War Deaths
Hollingsworth, Wilfrid G, 2nd Lt, Lancashire Fusiliers, Year 1944, Volume 2, Page 215

Probate Indexes show Wilfrid

On the 1911 Census, which was handwritten by his father, Edward, the spelling of his name is not totally clear, but I am fairly sure it is Wilfred.

The handwritten baptism record for 6 October 1909 shows Wilfred.

 

Hi,

As the other members have said, you went where there was a need. My grandfather was born and bred in Hampstead, North London, and he was posted to the Deveonshire Regiment and then transferred to the King's Liverpool's a while later.

 

Hi all. Thanks for the replys. I did notice the difference in spelling

 

Hi
Having been decimated at Dunkirk the 8th Lancashire fusiliers were very short on men.
Maybe this was the reason

 

From the London Gazette:

The undermentioned Cadets from 161st, 162nd, 164th, 165th and I70th O.C.T.U's., to be 2nd Lts. except as otherwise stated. 21st Sept. 1940: —
INFANTRY
Lan. Fus.
Wilfrid George HOLLINGSWORTH (149293)
5777

Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945 on ancestry.co.uk gives original unit as Royal Engineers, so maybe went to OCTU from the ranks rather than direct from enlistment:

Name: Wilfred Hollingsworth
Given Initials: W
Rank: Captain
Death Date: 28 Apr 1944
Number: 149293
Birth Place: Staffordshire
Residence: Birmingham
Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Engineers
Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
Theatre of War: Burma
Regiment at Death: Lancashire Fusiliers
Branch at Death: Infantry

Some factories and works & Post Office Departments had associated R.E. Territorial Army Battalions pre war. I met someone many years ago who was in the RE TA attached to Southampton University while he was studying engineering there in the 90's. Maybe your company or one of its former incarnations is a clue here, esp if they had a works in the Birmingham area.

Travers

 

Cheers

 

Image of his grave memorial at Kohima here:

Untitled Document

 

Hi Charlie

Are you still doing research your on Captain Hollingsworth? Wilfrid Hollingsworth is my wife's granddad. I'm not sure the family are aware his name is on a memorial in Edinburgh.

Ben

 

Ben, my partner works for the same company as Charlie does. she's interested in war memorials and is currently researching the people listed on it. perhaps we could help each other?

the company was an old Scottish investments firm called Scottish Equitable. the war memorial was in their office in central Edinburgh until they were taken over by a Dutch firm in the 90s. the office, and memorial, were moved to an purpose built office on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

I'm wondering how someone born in Birmingham came to be working for an Edinburgh based company. did he come up here to work, or did they have branches in England.

I've attached a pic of the memorial for you.

 

From the 1939 Kellys Directory of Birmingham



Other directories show the Scot Equitable had been at 3 Newhall Street since at least 1913, and the firm is listed before that from as early as 1892 in Birmingham. Listings also show for Liverpool, City of London, Bristol & Notts.

Could they have had agents who visited peoples houses like "the man from the Pru", as well as workers in the office.

Looked for Wilfred's occupation on the 1939 Register, but he is not shown, only his wife & one redacted record. Perhaps suggesting that he was already in the army, maybe as a mobilised Territorial.

 

Hi Charlie & Andrew
Apologies for non reply for so long, I thought I'd get notified if there were any updates on this thread but didn't.
Anyway, I've been able to go through some of the family documents that relate to Captain Hollingsworth, or Dick, as everyone knew him.
In his Soldier's Service Book, his 'Trade on Enlistment' is recorded as Insurance Official. I'm pretty sure it's Dick's handwriting too. I've uploaded an image.
I can't find any documents of employment for Dick pre enlistment. However, there is a copy version of a letter from the Resident Secretary of Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society, 3 Newhall Street, Birmingham, 15 January 1945 to Dick's widow's solicitors. The letter starts 'Policy monies on Deposit. As requested we have placed the sum of ......... made up as undernoted on Staff Seposit in the name of Mrs CJ Hollingsworth ......". It says Seposit and not Deposit. I'm not a lawyer or in insurance but it sounds to me like Dick was most probably an employee in there Birmingham office before enlisting. I don't want to post an image of this letter as it contains info I don't think the family would want shared.

I have details of when Dick signed up and got his commission. Enlisted 23 March 1939, Enbodied 1 September 1939, Discharged due to appointed to a commission 20 September 1940. See image attached.

One last thing regarding why Dick ended up in the Lancashire Fusiliers whilst he was from Birmingham. I don't have a definitive answer, however, I have a letter from Dick's friend dated Feb 1940 congratulating him on his promotion. From the letter it sounds like Dick has been writing to friends in the army looking for a officer posting. Dick's friend replies to say that there's currently "sweet F.A." where he is. He also adds that him and several others have been approached for infantry commissions and "the majority have declined". He adds "They will probably try to sell you the same idea, as there are no more home defence commissions available". So it may well be that Dick went to the Lancashire Fusiliers to fill gaps that had sadly become available at officer level in the regiment.

 

Hi,

As Charlie and Andrew haven’t signed in to the forum since 2020 and 2021 respectively I’ve sent them each a message to alert them to your post and to invite them to reply - but I can’t guarantee they will.

Steve