I have been thinking about Charles Holdorf’s journey from Sydney to Egypt in 1915. His departure is well documented on November 9th, but the exact route taken by the troopship Beltana is uncertain. Did the ship sail north via Brisbane and up over the top … Continue reading Egypt 1915
Major Charles John Holdorf (1869-1954)
The following was written by my father, Ian, about his grandfather, Charles John Holdorf, who I mentioned in the previous blog. It outlines Charles's military career. In 1890 he enlisted in the New South Wales Military Forces, and was commissioned in 1896. He had various … Continue reading Major Charles John Holdorf (1869-1954)
The joy and the pain of nationality
Last night I watched the WW1 film, Passchendaele. It is a film about relationships, and the effect that war has on them. Not just that, but it is about family and identity, a film that asks questions about who we are and the decisions we … Continue reading The joy and the pain of nationality
My mother and her ancestors
Last week, 23 January, was my mother’s birthday, or at least it would have been was she still alive. Mum died in 1999 on August 28. We were living in Sweden at the time, our twins, Hanna and Samuel were not yet two years old, … Continue reading My mother and her ancestors
Horse transport in WW1
As I mentioned in my last blog, George Simmonds, my great grandfather, agricultural labourer and carman of Heston, Middlesex, joined the Army Service Corps during the Great War and served variously in England, Ireland and Greece. Before the war he was involved in the transport … Continue reading Horse transport in WW1
Forgotten tales 