CWGC Headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Holdsworth was the youngest of 4 sons, offspring of Arthur Holdsworth, born November 11th 1877 and Jane Turner of Benton, Northumberland, born 1878. They had married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, in 1911, their son Thomas was born September 15th 1912, William, April 17th 1914, Stanley 1916 and George, June 29th 1918, possibly named in remembrance of his maternal uncle, Private George Turner Yorkshire Regiment who had died in Belgium, April 12th.
Jane Holdsworth nee Turner died, May 25th 1939, aged 61 years. Widower Arthur, who prior to being incapacitated was employed as a stone quarryman, was living at 130, West Avenue, Newburn, Northumberland, supported by his sons, William, Stanley and George, who were market gardeners on their own account, their brother Thomas had married and was living a few doors away.
For the second time in 25 years, Britain and Germany were at war, which was declared, September 1st 1939. George enlisted and was assigned as Private 6210430 to the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment.
The 1st Battalion had been stationed in Singapore since 1938, part of the 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade, with a military camp in the Kranji area. February 8th 1939 during the Japanese invasion of Malaya it was a large ammunition magazine and a prime target. The Japanese crossed the Johore straits landing at the mouth of the Kranji River and launched an attack the following day. Over the following days the fighting was fierce and often hand to hand. The British and Commonwealth troops were overwhelmed by the superior numbers and strength of the Japanese and forced to withdraw. Singapore surrendered February 15th 1942 and about 50,000 troops were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese who established a camp at Kranji.
Private 6210430 George Holdsworth died February 15th 1942 and was buried within Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore, Collective grave 27. C. 2-4. He was 23 years of age and single.
His father paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Shall Remember Him.”
Details as regards George’s brothers;
Thomas Holdsworth married Marion McKennell, September 22nd 1939 at Dumfries, Scotland, however they settled at 148, West Avenue, Newburn, Northumberland. He was a commercial traveller specialising in heavy motor vehicles, and later moved to Ilkley, West Riding, Yorkshire. He travelled aboard the S.S. Canberra from Southampton to New York, arriving August 17th 1962, the purpose of the journey is not known. Thomas Holdsworth of 7, Moor Park, Addingham, Ilkley, W. Yorkshire, died, February 11th 1986, aged 73 years. Marion Holdsworth nee McKennell at Keighley, West Yorkshire in 2001, aged 87 years.
Stanley Holdsworth died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, May 21st 1976, aged 59 years as did William Holdsworth aged 82 years in 1996.
Their father Arthur Holdsworth, had died aged 72 years in 1950, registered at Northumberland South (including Newburn and Westerhope).
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Holdsworth is remembered at Westerhope on W77.02 and at Whorlton on W53.02
