Service Details
Name:
 HOLBORN
Given Name:
 JOHN SIMPSON
Initials:
 J S
Service No:
 X/15
Rank:
 Company Sergeant Major
Other Casualties of this Rank
Regiment:
 South African Infantry
Other Casualties from this Regiment
Unit:
 4th Regt.
Other Casualties from this Unit
Date of Death:
 1918-04-17
Other Casualties on this Date
Date of Birth:
 1882-12-31
Age:
 35
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action
Decorations:
 M M, M S M
Citations:
 MM LG Sup 9 July 1917 pg. 6845 - The original recommendation - initially for a D.C.M. "In the operations on 9 April [1917] this Non Commissioned Officer was in charge of a platoon and displayed great initiative and courage. In the attack on the second objective he led a bombing attack against a portion of the enemy and dispersed them. In the operations of 12 April, he again led his platoon in a very gallant manner and by his courage act - a very splendid example to the men. In this attack he was wounded, but in the arm and the leg but refused to leave his post for nearly four hours after being wounded and until he had been assured that his platoon was in a secure position.", MSM LG Sup 12 March 1917 - "For gallantry in the performance of military duty - During a course of instruction in live grenade throwing, a N.C.O. threw a live mills bomb which lodged in the parapet of the trench just above his head. L/Cpl Holborn pushed the man aside & grasping the bomb threw it over the parapet thus averting a most serious accident & probably saving several lives. Deed performed at Borden 23 July 1916"
Additional
Information:
Son of James and Isabella Laidlaw Holborn, of Ravenscraig Farm, Greenock. Born Gourock, Scotland. A boilermaker. Served with South African Constabulary in Boer War. Attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Bordon on 29 November 1915. Allocated the Regimental number "X15" and attached to "K" Company, he disembarked at Rouen for the Western Front shortly after his M.S.M. winning exploits and was promoted Corporal in the trenches on 8 August 1916. Further promoted Sergeant 6 November 1916, his service records state that he survived the Battle of the Somme but was wounded in action on 12 April 1917, during the action for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Evacuated to Eastbourne suffering from a severe gunshot wound to the right hip, he returned to Belgium in March 1918 as Acting Company Sergeant Major.
Commemoration
Country:
 Belgium
Other Casualties commemorated in Belgium
Locality:
 Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Other Casualties commemorated in Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Cemetery:
 YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Other Casualties commemorated in this Cemetery
Grave Reference:
 Panel 15 - 16 and 16A.

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