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Holliman, Charles Alexander

Date of birth:
1917
Date of death:
January 21st, 1945 (St Joost)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Nederweert
Plot: III. Row: A. Grave: 6.
Service number:
71224
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

The commander of the 5th RTR is Lieutenant Colonel Charles Alexander "Gus" Holliman.
On the night of January 17 during Operation Blackcock, Sittard was shelled with large-caliber grenades and part of the unit moved towards Schilberg. On the 21st the unit moved into positions around the church, which had now been targeted by the same German artillery and mortars there was one casualty, the commander!

He had come to Schilberg with his reconnaissance vehicle to check on the unit, in this case the Alfa Squadron (also his old unit), so most of the boys knew him personally.
His vehicle was hit by a mortar. Alexander Holliman was 27 years old and was buried in Buchten.
On September 20 1946 he was moved to Nederweert, he is (as far as we know) the second most highly decorated soldier buried in Nederweert.

He also served in North Africa with the Long Range Desert Group for two years in command of the Rhodesian Patrol and with
7th Armored Division "The Desert Rats" from EI Alamein to Tunis.

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Sources

  • Photo 1:
  • Photo: Bron: History of 'A' Squadron 141 RAC (The Buffs)
  • Bron:lib.militaryarchive.co.uk - Adoptiegraven Nederweert

Photo