John.Holland

Thanks for your post Mervyn, I'd like to investigate all avenues where possible. I'm currently investigating Royal Navy history at my local Library. However, detailed information appears to be very limited as books on the subject of HMS Terrible 1899 to 1910 are not readily available. As you may have guessed, it's crew details, ships logs, role call etc., that may reveal exactly what activity or action my grandfather saw. I greatly welcome and appreciate all the help I can get. Many thanks again to you and your fellows. John Holland.

I am willing to purchase any literature, reference book or the like to learn more about this subject. Can any member make any recommendations to steer me in the right direction?

My Grandfather, AB A.J.Holland served on HMS Terrible during the 2nd Boer War in the battles in the relief of Ladysmith and I was also led to believe he was attached to the ship when the ship was active on the China Station in the Boxer Rebellion at the relief of Peking. I know that his duties in South Africa were based on transporting ships guns to Ladysmith. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with R of L bar. I am custodian of the afore mentioned medal. The medal appears to be silver and is engraved around its circumference with his number, name and ship. The type face or font appears to be a different style compared to those medals I have viewed on other websites but I'm informed that it's the genuine item with ribbon and 2 clasps, Natal and Orange Free State. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, I believe he served as part of a gun crew in the battles of the relief of Peking. However, I cannot find any information to show whether he was awarded or should have been awarded a China War Medal. I recently read a book about the activities of HMS Terrible during this time, written by the ships Master at Arms. In the book, my Grandfather is listed as being part of a crew responsible for the operation of a gun. It is only from this information that I ascertain his role in the Relief of Peking. My question is; Is there a member knowledgeable in the field of the 2nd Boer War/Boxer Rebellion that could point me in the right direction to check out these two points or help in finding further information? I have been advised that there were two people by the name Holland on the ship at that time, AB AJ Holland and an Ordinary Seaman FJ Holland, who appears to have been awarded a Boxer Rebellion Medal. However, this Ord Seamen is referred to as AB FJ Holland. I just wonder if there was a mix up somewhere and that my grandfather should have been awarded the medal? How do I find out? Any ideas? Thank you in anticipation, John Holland john.holland40@me.com

Thanks for your message Brian! I'll try and transfer my topic as you suggested.

Yes, thanks to all who chipped in and helped. I'm now well on the way to discovering the past. Keep up the good work. Happy new year, John Holland

1314, My apologies, I forgot to say thank you. I know it's very difficult and time consuming to search for information so I am very appreciative of your reply and of course, any reply. Thanks again John

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. I did not know of another person named Holland on HMS TERRIBLE. That's really thrown a spanner in the works for me. I have read the book, The Commission of HMS TERRIBLE 1898-1902 by George Crowe. The book only appears to list one sailor named Holland, no initials published. I had, of course, assumed that this particular Holland was my Grandfather and the QSM medal I hold appeared to be evidence that confirmed this. Well, I don't know what to think or even do now. I know that he was on the ship that sailed to Durban. I have evidence to say that he took part in the transportation of ships guns to Ladysmith. He must therefore have been on the ship that sailed to the China Station. My Dad always told me that his father, A.J. Holland, served on HMS Terrible around the turn of the century and that he fought in South Africa and China. I wonder if there can be or is it possible that this F.J.Holland and number is an error on the list? I can supply photos of the QSM medal and of him in Navy uniform if required. As a point of interest or perhaps research information, A.B. A. J. Holland also served on HMS INVINCIBLE and HMS MONARCH during the 1st World War. He took part in the battle of Jutland when the ship HMS Invincible was sunk. He was serving on the ship HMS Monarch at the time and survived although he never collected any war or campaign medals. Perhaps this additional information my help to throw further light on this subject. Kind regards John Holland.

Timo, Thank you for your reply. I hope the following information helps. The QSA medal is a type 2 with Britannia pointing towards the R and the 'Ghost Dates' are evident. It is engraved around the outer rim with a type face style like the example no. 3 on the website link and reads as follows; 184098 A.B. A. J. HOLLAND. HMS TERRIBLE. There are two clasps/bars attached to the medal, ORANGE FREE STATE and NATAL. I understand that he was "in action" at the relief of Ladysmith but no clasp for this appears to have been awarded although I do remember a loose clasp contained in the envelope with the medal when I was a young boy. As covered in my early post, A.B. A. J. Holland was also in action at the China Station during the Boxer Rebellion 1901/1902. He was part of the Tientsin Defence Force and Relief of Pekin under the command of Lieut. J. E. Drummond RN. He was in action as part of the No.4, 12 Pounder Gun crew with Petty Officer Strudwick who was Captain of the Gun. I cannot find any information as to whether he was awarded or received or should have been awarded or received the China War Medal with any clasp. I sure that he should have as his shipmates were awarded the medal with the relief of Pekin clasp. Any ideas would be most welcome. Kind regards, John Holland

Please help. My Grandfather, AB A.J.Holland served on HMS Terrible during the 2nd Boer War in the battles in the relief of Ladysmith and also when the ship was active on the China Station in the Boxer Rebellion at the relief of Peking. I know that his duties in South Africa were based on transporting ships guns to Ladysmith. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with R of L bar. I am custodian of the afore mentioned medal. The medal appears to be silver and is engraved around its circumference with his number, name and ship. The type face or font appears to be a different style compared to those medals I have viewed on other websites. I hope that it's the genuine item but how can I tell? Additionally, he served as part of a gun crew in the battles of the relief of Peking. However, I cannot find any information to show whether he was awarded or should have been awarded a China War Medal. I recently read a book about the activities of HMS Terrible during this time, written by the ships Master at Arms. In the book, my Grandfather is listed as being part of a crew responsible for the operation of a gun. It is only from this information that I ascertain his role in the Relief of Peking. My question is; Is there a member knowledgeable in the field of the 2nd Boer War/Boxer Rebellion that could point me in the right direction to check out these two points or help in finding further information? Please advise. Thank you in anticipation, John Holland john.holland40@me.com

Please help. My Grandfather, AB A.J.Holland served on HMS Terrible during the relief of Ladysmith and also when the ship was active at the China Station at the relief of Peking. I know that his duties in South Africa were based on transporting ships guns to Ladysmith. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with RofL bar. I an custodian of the afore mentioned medal. The medal appears to be silver and is engraved around its circumference with his number, name and ship. The type face appears to be a different style compared to those medals I have viewed on other websites. I hope that it's the genuine item. Additionally, he served as part of a gun crew in the battles of the relief of Peking. However, I cannot find any information to show whether he was awarded a China War Medal. Is there a knowledgeable 2nd Boer War/Boxer Rebellion member that could point me in the right direction to check out these two points? Please advise. Thank you in anticipation, John Holland john.holland40@me.com