Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Genealogical notes by Guy Holdate record: "The third Timaru Holdgate to serve overseas in WW1 was Ralph Aubrey Holdgate. He was born in Timaru in 1896, the first son to John and Henrietta Holdgate. John was the second son of Edward and Betty Holdgate who were among some of the first emigrants to South Canterbury. Ralph was educated at Timaru Main School. After school he worked for a period as a clerk with Dalgety and Co, gave his next of kin as father John Holdgate c/o John Jackson and Co (Limited) in Stafford Street Timaru. He joined up with the NZ forces in 26th September 1916 as a corporal promoted to sergeant by 16th October. Following in his cousin and uncle footsteps he embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion 22nd reinforcements C company to Devonport (England) on HMNZT Navua, departing NZ on 16 February 1917. He was transferred to Rouen (France) on 26th April 1917 and joined with the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment A Company. He joined the regimental unit field ambulance on 20th July 1917 and later the school of instructors by August 1917. He contracted trench foot and required treatment in the Clapton Military Hospital London from August to November. He was then transferred to the Couv? Depot at Hornchurch? in early December 1917. In March 1918 he took a months leave in the UK. He was eventually discharged as being no longer physically fit for active service due to continuing foot problems, and was embarked for NZ from Liverpool on the SS Remuera on 7th September 1918. On his return to Timaru after WW1 he continued to be involved in local events, managing to play tennis, cricket, hockey and later golf up to his late 70’s. He was a keen stamp collector becoming life member and patron of the Timaru Philatelic Society, president of the NZ Philatelic Society in 1957/58, and was a Timaru City Councillor. He married Merle Halliday and they had 2 sons Lyall and Bevan. Later in World War 2 he obtained the rank of Captain with the NZ military forces but did not serve overseas. His son Lyall had a lifetime career with the NZ Airforce, serving in Canada in World War 2 as a flying instructor. Ralph died on 9th July 1984 at the grand old age of 88 years."

Sources

Cenotaph (14 May 2014); Genealogical notes by Guy Holdgate, 2014 (South Canterbury Museum L2014/008)

External Links

Related Documents

• Holdgates in WWI - biographical notes courtesy of G Holdgate (pdf, 332.1 KB updated 28-Oct-2015)

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin (South Canterbury Museum)

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.