Michael Daniel Holland

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Waltham, Michael died on 10th of October 1917 at the age of 24. 

Michael was born at Lowestoft on 25 July 1893, a son of Michael and Caroline Holland. In 1901 his family lived at 35 Lorne Park Road, Kirkley. 

In 1911 Michael was the fifth hand on the trawler Boy Willie at Penzance. In spring 1914 Michael married Winifred Ellen Catchpole and by 1915 they were living at 20 Saint John’s Street, Lowestoft. By 1917 Winifred was living at 23 Windsor Terrace, Bay Road, Larne, Ireland. Later she lived at 38 Church Road, Pakefield, and then at 28 Church Road. 

Michael joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 January 1915. He served on the trawler Star of the Isles until 22 June 1915 when he joined the trawler Bombardier. On 8 May 1916 Michael joined the trawler Waltham. On 24 May 1917 Michael was injured, breaking a rib, due to falling on deck and striking his side on a fish box. 

In 1916 Michael was awarded the Imperial Russian Silver Medal for Zeal. Although this award was noted in Naval Paper 2015/9, dated 17 July 1916, it was not announced in the London Gazette. 

On 10 October 1917 the Waltham was patrolling off the Isle of Man. The vessel was reported missing, with all thirteen hands, and was presumed to have struck a mine. 

Michael’s brother-in-law, George Catchpole served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1918, and his brother-in-law, Frederick Catchpole, died in 1940 in the loss of the trawler Aberdeen.