Edward Holman was born in Portsea, Hampshire, on 9 February
1830, the son of Richard and Mary Holman, and was baptised at St Mary, Portsea,
on 14 March.
When Edward married in 1854, his father was described as
“Private Sappers & Miners”.
Edward enlisted in the Army on 23 December 1840 as a Bugler
in the Royal Engineers and was stationed in Woolwich at the time of the 1841
census. He was underaged, in terms of assessing his military service, until 9
February 1848 after which date he continued to serve as a Bugler until 1 July
when he was posted Sapper in 35th Company, Royal Engineers, the substantive
rank he held for over five years until he was promoted 2nd Corporal
on 1 December 1853. However, by the 1851 census he had been appointed lance
corporal, still based at Woolwich.
He was promoted further – Corporal on 1 April 1855 and
Sergeant on 1 February 1857.
While still in Woolwich, and then a 2nd Corporal,
he married Harriott Storey at St Mary Magdalene, on 25 September 1854 .
At the time of the Mutiny, he was posted to India and was “wounded
at Lucknow on 21 November 1857 by a musket ball shattering his right elbow
joint – the arm has been amputated above the elbow”. As late as February 1859,
the stump had not healed and Sergeant Holman was considered unfit for further
service and he was discharged on 1 March, having served 11 years and 21 days.
At the time of his discharge, he was described as 5ft 6in
tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His trade had
been that of carpenter. In all, he served for 11 years 21 days (plus 7 years 41
days while under age).
Immediately after he left the Army, he became Band and
Drillmaster to the Philanthrophic Society’s Farm School, at Redhill, Surrey, at
a “salary of £50 per annum, with lodging and firing”. Rev Charles Walters,
resident chaplain, explains Holman’s duties in his Annual Report to the
Society’s committee and membership in 1860 as: “An introduction of a small
amount of military drill as a useful addition to the machinery of the school by
improving the appearance, manners, and bearing of the boys, and regulating
their movements.” Later, Edward also acted as clerk to the school’s secretary.
The 1861 census described him as “Band & Drillmaster, Chelsea
pensioner and late sergeant of Engineers”; in 1871 as “Out pensioner Chelsea
Hospital & Writing clerk in Society Office”; and in 1881 as “Clerk &
Band Master, Philosophical Society's Farm School”. He was also at one time Bandmaster
of 4th Surrey Rifle Volunteers in Reigate.
He and Harriott were to have at least five children – three
girls and two boys – born between 1859 and 1870. The second son joined the
Royal Navy and was a Petty Officer.
When Edward Holman died, he left an estate of £334 4s 3d and
administration was granted to his widow. His funeral was reported in the local
paper:
THE SURREY MIRROR AND GENERAL COUNTY ADVERTISER
21 JANUARY 1882
REDHILL
Obituary
– We regret to announce the death of Mr. Edward Holman, band and drill
instructor at the Philanthropic Society’s Farm School, on the 8th
inst., after a long and trying illness, borne with exemplary patience and
fortitude. Mr. Holman had been in the service of the society for upwards of 22
years, and was deservedly held in great esteem by all with whom he was
connected, for although not of a demonstrative or ostentatious temperament, his
sterling qualities and ever faithful discharge of duty ensured him unusually
great respect, which was manifested in a remarkable manner on the occasion of
his funeral, which took place on Friday last, at the Cemetery, Reigate. The
service commenced at the School Chapel at 2 p.m., where all the officials and
inmates of the school were in attendance. His remains were enclosed in a
handsome elm coffin of correct shape, with appropriate brass furniture, a plain
Latin cross running the who length of the lid, having a brass plate at the
foot, on which was lettered “Edward Holman, died January 8th, 1882,
aged 51 years.” The coffin was brought into the chapel on a wheel bier, and was
covered with a handsome violet pall, on which friendly hands had laid some
beautiful wreaths and crosses of white azaleas and other flowers, ferns,
&c. The bearers were the band boys of the Institution, and the
schoolmasters and bailiff acted as pall bearers. The chaplain, the Rev. C.
Walters, met the body at the western door, and read the usual opening sentences
of the burial office as the procession moved up the nave, Mr. Trevarthen
(Secretary) presiding at the organ and playing “O rest in the Lord” (Mendelssohn)
as the bearers, &C., took their places. Psalms 39 and 90 were touchingly
sung to a Gregorian chant (2nd tone), and were followed by the
lesson, most impressively read by the chaplain. After this Hymn 400 (A. and M.)
“Christ will gather in His own,” was sung with appropriate solemnity and
pathos, and as the body was removed “Nunc Dimitis” was chanted – a soft
voluntary bringing this part of the service to an end. The cortege now formed
to proceed to Reigate, the widow and some friends following in carriages,
whilst the sons of the deceased, school officers, &c., walked on foot
behind the bier, which was propelled by the band boys, the boys of one house
(Queen’s) joining the train of mourners. We should here state that Mr. Homan
was formerly a sergeant in the Royal Engineers, and had for many years enjoyed
a pension for active service, which came to an end at Lucknow during the Indian
mutiny, in consequence of the loss of his right arm. He was bandmaster of the
Reigate Corps of Volunteers many years, until some three years ago his failing
health compelled him to retire. The Reigate Rifle Corps, not unnaturally,
desired to join in paying him military honours, and for that purpose the band
and a detachment of the men met the funeral cortege en route to Reigate, awaiting it near the Cottage Hospital under
command of Sergeant-Major Garton, some members of the old band joining in for
the occasion. The procession halted to receive the Union Jack as a pall, and
then at the word “Slow march” it moved solemnly forward to the soul-stirring
strains of the “Dead March” with muffled drums, the effect being most striking
and moving even strong men to tears. At Ringley, the Vicar (Rev. J. N.
Harrison), as chaplain to the corps, met the procession and headed it to the
grave, where a large number of people had assembled. The volunteers and the
detachment of boys here formed a square, the touching burial office proceeding
as usual, except that the grand unison of men’s and boys’ voices in the
responses, Lord’s Prayer, &c., added greatly to the effect. At the
conclusion of the service Hymn 401 (A. and M.) “Now the labourer’s task is
o’er,” was very appropriately and pathetically sung, and the assemblage
dispersed without the usual firing over the grave, because the arms of the
corps had been called in for examination and repairs. We have frequently
noticed in our reports of the annual festivals of the school how efficiently
Mr. Holman’s training of the boys asserted itself, and we are assured on the
best authority that since many years ago he added to his former duties that of
clerk in the secretary’s office, the same high sense of duty made him equally
efficient and useful there. He has gone down to his grave with universal
respect and esteem, and will, we are sure, be long missed by those who knew his
invariable honour and trustworthiness, and enjoyed his co-operation and
friendship.
His position as bandmaster, however, was taken by Henry
Mallinder, former drum major in the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.
The story of the Mallinder family has been told in another
Pea-Bee History blog
No comments:
Post a Comment