George Selwyn Holroyd

War Service

George enlisted at Wakefield as Private 33249 in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and then transferred to the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 37308. According to the battalion war diary between the 21st and 24th March, of the 20 officers and 551 other ranks that took part in operations, 4 officers and 38 other ranks were killed with 12 officers and 353 other ranks either wounded or missing. George was killed in action on 22nd March 1918 aged 27. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The memorial in the Wakefield Express reads:
“HOLROYD Pvte Geo Selwyn Holroyd, East Yorks, son of Mr and Mrs Holroyd Kirkham Farm, Kirkhamgate, killed in action March 22nd 1918. ‘Only those who have lost can understand’ – from his Father, Mother and sisters.”
Immediately following the above was another memorial saying he was “Ever remembered – Hilda”. Possibly another sweetheart left grieving at home.
On further investigation I found that brother Milton had died in June 1917 and is buried in Alverthorpe Churchyard, so Albert and Minnie had lost both their sons within 9 months of each other.

Family Life

George was born in Sowerby Bridge in 1890 to Albert who was a butcher and his wife Minnie. By 1901 the family had moved to The Mount in Wrenthorpe and Albert was now a cattle dealer and George the eldest of 4 children. His siblings were Milton (aged 8), Elsie Mary (aged 6) and Emily (aged 3). In 1911 they had moved once again now living at Kirkham Cottage, Kirkhamgate. George and his younger brother Milton were both working on their father’s farm with Elsie and Emily helping too, although the enumerator has crossed out their occupation for some reason.

Pozieres Memorial