Three medals with ribbons; Postcard from Southampton, 1909, from Patrick to his wife; Postcard with photograph of J. Smyth; Photographs of his discharge certificate; Character certificate (Army Form B, 2067); Ministry of Pensions document, 1920; Certificate of Discharge (Army Form B, 2079); War Office Records document, 1957, of service; Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document; Copy of photograph of Patrick with his wife and children
My grandfather, Sgt. Patrick Holland, was born in 1888 in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Before the war he was a groom although his Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document notes that he was a baker. He enlisted at Templemore on 10/12/06 at about 18 years of age. He married Lizzie in 1906 and they had two children. His Certificate of Discharge states that he trained in medical duties in Longmoor in 1908. There is some contradictions in his records with regard to when he moved from the Leinster Regiment to the 8th Hussars. The War Office document states that enlisted in the Leinster Regiment on 10/12/1906 and was transferred to the 8th Hussars on 01/03/1909. His Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document notes that he was in 8th Hussars from 10/12/1906 to 03/08/1914 and in 8th Hussars from 04/08/1914 to 30/04/1919. Presumably this is a mistake and it meant to note that he was in the Leinster Regiment from 10/12/1906 to 03/08/1914? There is a postcard from Southampton dated 1909, before he sailed for India. He served in India until 1914. His Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document, however, states that he served in India from 04/08/1914 to 14/10/1914. I heard a story that when he was coming back from India, he thought he was coming home on leave but was sent to France. He served in France from 15/10/1914 to 6/03/1918 and in Egypt from 7/03/1918 to 15/03/1919. He was discharged in 1919. His discharge refers (dated 30/04/1919 in War Office document) to him being surplus to requirements and an impairment. I know he had malaria that was recurring. He had a silver war badge but I don't have that. He never spoke about his war. His nephew once asked him if he had met Lawrence of Arabia and he said yes. He was in a restaurant with a group when the table cloth got caught in a belt and took the table with it. An argument ensued with the restaurant owner and their superiors were involved. Lawrence was at the restaurant and defended the fact that it was an accident. My grandmother' s two brothers were also in the army. One died in Bombay. I am unsure who J. Smyth is in the photograph but it must be a relative? Patrick became a postman after the war in Templemore. He was called an auxiliary postman because he had no Irish. he died on 2 July 1968, aged 80.

3 Medals of Patrick Holland and ribbons.
Front
Patrick Holland
Medal
Medals of Patrick Holland
Back
Southampton, England
Postcard to Mrs. Holland from Patrick sent before sailing from Southampton to India.
Postcard
Postcard from J. Smyth, addressed Dear Mother.
Postcard from J. Smyth.
J. Smyth
Official document
Character Certificate
York, England
Character Certificate of Patrick Holland detailing service in the 8th Hussars.
Honorable discharge document of Patrick Holland
Honorable discharge document of Patrick Holland.
51.4865187,-0.17123109999999997
Patrick Holland's Pensions Document
War Office Document
Military Service Document outlining records of Patrick Holland.
Hayes, England
Military Service Document
Pension Appeals Tribunal Document concerning Lizzie Holland (Patrick's Widow)
Pension Appeals Tribunal Document
Patrick and Lizzie Holland
Photograph
Patrick Holland and family
Photo of Patrick Holland with his wife and two children