Sergeant. 286th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Service number 338608.
Early life
Percy was born on February 20, 1887 in Oakworth. Parents George and Eliza Hollings. He was baptised at Christ Church in Oakworth on August 14, 1887. His family were living at Dockroyd and his father George was working as a gardener.
In 1891 he was four years old and living at 15, Dockroyd in Oakworth with his parents, four sisters and one brother. His father was still a gardener. By 1901 he was fourteen and living at 2, Brook Row in Oakworth with parents and three sisters. Percy was at school although he may have been working part time as a wool spinner. Percy married Susannah Laycock in 1908. He would have been twenty-one and Susannah twenty-two years of age. The marriage was recorded at Keighley in the third quarter of the year.
By 1911 They had moved to 22, Park Avenue in Oakworth and Percy was a certificated Elementary School Teacher, employed by the Borough of Keighley Education Committee. He was a schoolmaster at Ingrow Council School. They had three children, Olga, born in 1909; Clarence, born in 1910; and Marion who was under one month old having been born on 26th March 1911.
War service:
Percy enlisted at Keighley with the Royal Artillery and after a period of training he was serving at Durham RGA. From a calculation of the £14 war gratuity awarded with regard to his rank of Sergeant and length of service, we estimate that Percy attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915. Then, as a married man with three children (later four) he was called up in late 1916, giving him time to train at Durham RGA in order to go out with the 286th Battery early in 1917.
Men from this Artillery Depot had previously joined the 77th Heavy Artillery Group (later the 77th Brigade) which was formed at Aldershot on 27th October 1916 and was transferred to Lydd on 3rd November. They were there until 12th December when they mobilised and left for Southampton on that date, landing at Havre in France the next day.
WO-95/297/4_01. War Diary of the 286th Siege Battery:
Selected texts from this diary –
The 286th Battery arrived later, landing at Havre on 28th February 1917 and Percy Hollings was likely to have been with them at that time. The 286th battery had 8 inch howitzer guns which could angle their barrels high and send plunging fire down on targets with terribly destructive effect. They travelled from Havre via DOULLENS and MONDICOURT to BERNEVILLE on 7th March, where they began to set up and were in action for the first time at 2.30 pm on 17th March. As part of a large mixed group, the brigade had 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch Howitzers.
The 286th served at AGNY, FICHEUX, and HENIN SUR COUJEL until June when they moved via BEURAINS to AGNEZ les DUISANS. Towards the end of June they moved via ECOIVRES to BOIS de la MAISON BLANCHE. From here they moved to MAROEUIL in early July and then on to a rest camp at DUNKIRK and FERMES. They set up again at RAMSCAPPELL and then on to OOST-DUNKERKE on 25th July. They moved between these two places for various shoots at multiple different objectives until December 7th when they moved to WORMHOUDT for a rest.
A section of the 286th diary deals specifically with Christmas 1917:
25th inst:
Troops were granted 800 Francs from the Battery funds to provide extras and a committee under Q.M.S. Hollobon (who did all the necessary and difficult work of buying eatables and borrowing forms and tables) was selected to expand it to the best advantage, Many extras were obtained for Dinner and Tea and arrangements met with general satisfaction. Speeches from the O.C. and S.M. were applauded heartily. In the evening a whist tournament was played off under the direction of Gunner Humphreys.
The “Times” of Dec 17th publishing the supplement to London Gazette of December 14th, contained among the list of RGA officers mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigh’s despatch of No. 17th 1917 the name of the O.C. of the Battery:- Major N. B. Maclean of the Canadian Artillery.
Early January 1918 saw the Battery still at rest in Country Billets, with a course of training being carried out according to a new drill book. Orders received for a move to LANGEMARCK, to be in action there by the 7th inst. They were in action intermittently with aeroplane observations. They were subject to occasional attacks from enemy batteries, with subsequent replies from us to neutralise them.
The war diary ends on 31st January 1918 and unfortunately no Battery war diary exists for the next period of major change.
We continue their story with sections from the History of the 77th Brigade, which shows that on 15th January the whole Brigade moved to a rest area at LAMBRES before returning to the line with the 286th moving to a position at BANK FARM.
History of the 77th Brigade, R.G.A.
(Compiled by the Brigade Commander and Illustrated by Captain F. W. WALTER , M.C. 119TH S.B. , R.G.A.)
The written History shows that on 14th March the following three men were wounded at SPREE FARM: Gunner F. Flint, Sergeant P. Hollings, Corporal W. F. Courtis.
The Battery remained here until April 11th when they were withdrawn to the West of FREZENBERG. 191st Siege Battery and 286th Siege Battery were withdrawn and retired to WORMHOUDT. The enemy were becoming very offensive and Brigade HQ withdrew to VLAMERTINGHE. On 18th April a further withdrawal was made when it was recognised that YPRES might have to be abandoned at any moment. They Brigade then received orders to move to ST. OMER and then ALQUINE, further to the West.
The whole brigade was then selected to move to FISMES which was over 140 miles to the South and they rejoiced in being sent to a quiet sector. They took eight trains to carry this move out. 26th Heavy Battery and 191st Siege Battery were located with the 116th and 286th Siege Batteries at BOIS DE MARAIS.
On 26th May disturbing information came through that two German prisoners had given away the fact that an attack was to be made at 5 am the next day, preceded by a bombardment timed for 1 am. All possible preparations were to be made for this. This sector had many troops who were war weary and many others were in the lines for the first time and had little or no experience of trench work.
On the stroke of 1 am on 27th May, the bombardment began with the whole of the enemy front from RHEIMS TO SOISSONS bursting into flame and a terrific bombardment from hundreds of guns of all calibres broke out and every battery position was smothered in gas and high explosives. All suspected HQ positions were heavily attacked and roads and villages in the immediate back areas were subjected to high velocity gun fire.
The aerodrome which was situated well to the south of FISMES was heavily shelled with every aircraft being put out of action, giving the enemy complete air superiority.
As to the 77th Brigade, 116th Siege Battery who were the furthest forward position, on seeing the situation blew up their guns and during the attack lost every officer and man. Of 26th Heavy Battery only three men got clear away, with the remainder being surrounded and surrendered.
286th were more fortunate and succeeded in getting a large proportion clear, whilst the 191st had already been withdrawn the day before.
The losses of the 286th Battery were one officer killed, 1 wounded, 1 missing, 3 men killed, 19 wounded, 2 wounded and missing, 22 missing (prisoners of war.)
Sergeant Percy Hollings was not heard from again and it was eventually presumed that he and several others had been killed on 27th May 1918. We did not find any mention of him in the International Red Cross Prisoner of War records.
Movements of Batteries in detail, May 27 to June 2, 1918:
286th Siege Battery, R.G.A.
The battery position near Pontavert was vacated at 8.30 A.M. on May 27th, and the personnel, split into three parties, passed through Fismes between 3 and 5 in the afternoon under desultory shelling.
These three parties separated, one party reaching Fere-en-Tardenois on foot at 1 am, the 28th, another getting to Arcy le Ponsart at 11 pm on the 27th, and the third, with the one remaining gun, marching to Largery and staying the night there with the Siege Park.
On the 28th one party moved to Château Thierry, the other two to Mezy, south of the Marne. On the 29th the three parties met together and rejoined the Brigade near Festigny, where the one howitzer was brought into action, ready to cover the bridge at Pont-à-Binson.
On June 1st the one howitzer and detachment were moved on to the hill overlooking Boursault, and came into position ready to cover the Damery bridge, the remainder of the battery moving to Ferebrianges.
Sixteen men from the 286th battery are recorded dead with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the 27th of May 1918. Five were buried at Beaurepaire French National Cemetery at Pontavert and one at Sissonne British Cemetery. The other ten men had no known grave, one of them was named on the Pozieres memorial and nine others were named on the Soissons memorial. One of these nine names was that of Sergeant Percy Hollings.
Post war:
Susannah applied for an Army Dependant’s Pension for herself and their four children Olga, Clarence, Marian and Audrey. The card is very detailed but somewhat difficult to decipher. It appears that the children all had a pension awarded until their respective sixteenth birthdays but Susannah had another widow’s pension which rendered her ineligible for an Army Dependant’s Pension.
The amount she received was £1 11s. 1d plus £1 9s. 6d for the children. A further pension record card shows a pension of 36 shillings and 3 pence was awarded from 17th February 1919.
The statement of ineligibility (in red ink) reads: Instruct I.V. to issue arrears of pension to wife 11.4.19.
The applicant is not eligible for an A.P because her wids pens.: with —- all exceeds the sum that could be awarded as an A.P. 27.7.19. Sent to G.P. branch 16.8.19.
There is also a note on the pension card which shows Susannah received a grant of £9 on 8th March 1920.
From the Soldier’s effects record, we can see that as Percy’s widow and sole legatee in his will, Susannah received a payment of £14 1s 6d on 7th January 1920, which included a war gratuity payment of £14.
There is no Army service record available but we assume Susannah received Percy’s personal effects should there have been any.
At some point in 1920 or 1921 she would have received his war service medals which were the British War Medal and Victory medal.
She would also have been sent a bronze war memorial plaque and a King’s Certificate inscribed with his name around the same time.
Remembrance:
Percy’s name is recorded on the Soissons War Memorial.
He is remembered on the Oakworth War Memorial at Holden Park in Oakworth and on the Oakworth Wesleyan roll of honour in Oakworth Methodist Church. His name is also recorded in the Keighley Boy’s Grammar School roll of honour, which was published in the ‘Keighlian’ School Magazine in 1918.
He is also named in the central panel of the Ingrow Council School roll of honour as: ‘A Master – Percy Hollings.’
In Oakworth cemetery the family grave headstone inscription reads: In Loving Memory of Sgt. Percy Hollings R.G.A. Reported wounded & missing in France May 27th 1918. Aged 32 years.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
1911 England Census.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War
National Archives – War diary WO-95/297/4_01
Oakworth cemetery – Family Headstone inscription.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
1921 England Census.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.
History of the 77th Brigade, R.G.A. Compiled by the Brigade Commander Lieutenant Colonel H. de L. Walters and Illustrated by Captain F. W. WALTER , M.C. 119TH S.B. , R.G.A.
Published by: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd. 1, New Street Square, London. 1919.
List of the 15 men of 286th Battery RGA, who died on 27th May 1918:
Beaurepaire French National Cemetery, Pontavert 1237, France:
Gunner J. Donoghue. 39 years old. Service Number: 202575.
Gunner William Faulkner. 31 years old. Service Number: 172711.
Gunner Herbert Jackson. 33 years old. Service Number: 171232.
Acting Bombardier Ambrose James Manuel. 24 years old. Service Number: 334310.
Bombardier A.A.F.W. WALTON, 38 years old. Service Number: 108408.
Pozieres Memorial, Panel 10, France:
Gunner Alfred Chapman. 36 years old. Service Number: 112260.
Soissons Memorial, France:
Gunner William Bennett, 30 years old. Service Number: 376621.
Serjeant Percy Hollings, 32 years old. Service Number: 338608.
Second Lieutenant John Macdonald, 38 years old.
Gunner Norman McLeod Service, Number: 190484.
Gunner John Edward Palmer, 37 years old. Service Number: 338418.
Gunner Robert Still, Service Number: 121139.
Gunner George Frederick Townsend, 39 years old. Service Number: 123033.
Gunner Robert Gardner Whitson, Service Number: 107437.
Gunner Richard Youngman, Service Number: 122699.
