HOLFORD CHARLES FOURDRINIER PLANT

BBC – Remembrance – Soldier Record

 Born: 13th August 1895, Tillington, Staffordshire.

 Died: 3rd May 1917; age: 22; KiA at Fontaine-les-Croiselles while leading his platoon right up to the German lines. Described “a real good sort.”

 Residence: The Moorings, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

While undergoing his engineering training he joined the Essex Royal Horse Artillery, as a Trooper, and was in camp with the Battery on Salisbury Plain when war broke out. Obtained a commission on the 14th November – Second Lieutenant in the North Staffordshire Regiment. Early in 1916, he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps but subsequently rejoined his battalion.

Rank: Second Lieutenant.

Regiment: North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s), 3rd Reserve Battalion attached to Leicestershire Regiment, 9th Battalion.

Memorial Reference:

Bay 7 & 8.

Arras Memorial,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Ethel Marian & the late Samuel Plant.

CENSUS

1901   Eccleshall Road, Tillington, Staffordshire.

Holford was 5 years old and living with his parents, siblings & paternal spinster aunt.

Samuel Plant, 40, a Solicitor – employer, born Weston on Trent, Staffordshire.

Ethel Marian Plant (nee Stevenson), born Malta.

John Christopher George Plant, 2, born Tillington.

Samuel Arthur N. Plant, 1, born Tillington.

Margaret Antoinette Plant, 2 months, born Tillington.

Emily Marian Plant, 43, Living on own Means, born Weston on Trent.

1 nurse.

1 general domestic servant.

1911   New Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Holford was 15 years old and living with his widowed mother & siblings.

Ethel, 38, Living on Independent Means.

John, 13.

Samuel, 11.

Antoinette, 10.

1 general domestic servant.

Holford’s father, Samuel Plant died September 1910, Tillington, Staffordshire.

Holford was educated at Ipswich School – entered September 1911 – he left Midsummer 1912, to take up a course of engineering with a view to an appointment in India.

Ipswich School Magazine June 1917.

Soldiers’ Effects to Mrs. Ethel Marian Clowes – mother and to the account of Second Lieutenant J.C.G. Plant, of the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment – brother.

Holford is also remembered on the war memorial at Woodbridge, Suffolk, and on a private cross memorial of brass and marble at St. Mary’s Church, Market Hill, Woodbridge, and on the Chapel war memorial at Ipswich School.