The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions

George Hollis.

. George Hollis was born in 1880 in Ramsey Forty Foot, Huntingdonshire, he was one of 8 children. He was the son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch. George married VIOLET IVY SQUIRES in Jan 1905 in Huntingdonshire. She was the daughter of Thomas Squires and Maria Squires. She was born on 19 Oct 1886 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire and died in 1978 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. George Hollis died in 1977 in Hertfordshire.
George and Violet had the following children -

Stan Hollis. [He remembered watching his dad [George] and the men 'march off to war' from beside the clock in Great Whyte, Ramsey.]

Minnie Ivy Hollis - born on 24 Apr 1906 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire & died about 1983.

Eva Thora Hollis - who was born 23 July 1915 and baptised on the 19 August 1915.

. He served in the H.C.B as Private 212, serving in B Company of the Reserve Battalion of the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. As a home based territorial unit he would have to have volunteered for Imperial service, which would allow him to serve overseas.

. Local newspaper entries indicate that by 17th October 1914 Private G. Hollis had been promoted to the rank of Paid Lance Corporal at the time it was indicated that he was serving in E Company.

. George was one of a number of Hunts. Cyclists who went to France on the 27 July 1916 = at the time he was a Private in B Co. 2/1st H.C.B.
When he was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916.

His previous military indicates that from 1903-1908 served in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps at Huntingdon, where he was a Corporal having the army number 2309.

31st March 1914 - 24th February 1919 served in Bedfordshire Regiment [Number 43400] and also in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. (TA) Private 212.43400. He served 4 years 331 days, and was "discharged surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service". He served "'overseas" where he sustained a gunshot wound that left a scar on his thigh, and Army form 2079 supports that he had "scar on the right thigh, result of gunshot wound"   He also had "chevrons: three blue and 1 wound stripe"......

21 July 1921 - 21 July 1927 George served in the TA, 5th Battalion the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was in the military band as well, playing the brass trombone.

Research is continuing to establish if his brothers [listed below] served in the H.C.B.

1    THOMAS HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born on 25 Nov 1893 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, England. He died in July 1993 in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England.

2    CHARLES HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born about 1882. He died on 25 Mar 1918. He married MARTHA BAKER on 12 Oct 1903 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. Charles was born 1882, Ramsey Forty Foot. He died 23/25 March 1918 on the Somme, France. Charles served as Pte no. 25589 in the Northampton Regiment before transferring as Pte no. 40965 in the 10th Battn of the Essex Regiment, where he was a trained sniper. He was buried on the 25th march 1918, KNG Memorial Roye, New Bridge Cemetery, Somme, France (Sp.Mem B.2.) He is remembered on both the Ramsey and Forty Foot War Memorials.

3     JOHN THOMAS HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born in 29th March 1883 in Forty feet Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. Also known as 'Jack'. He moved to Wisbech around 1911.
Data on his service history was kindly provided by Lesley Hollis, who is the Granddaughter of George.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

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22/07/2017
. . Martyn Smith ©

.	George Hollis was born in 1880 in Ramsey Forty Foot, Huntingdonshire, he was one of 8 children. He was the son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch. George married VIOLET IVY SQUIRES in Jan 1905 in Huntingdonshire. She was the daughter of Thomas Squires and Maria Squires. She was born on 19 Oct 1886 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire and died in 1978 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. George Hollis died in 1977 in Hertfordshire. George and Violet had the following children - Stan Hollis. [He remembered watching his dad [George] and the men 'march off to war' from beside the clock in Great Whyte, Ramsey.] Minnie Ivy Hollis - born on 24 Apr 1906 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire & died about 1983. Eva Thora Hollis - who was born 23 July 1915 and baptised on the 19 August 1915.
.	He served in the H.C.B as Private 212, serving in B Company of the Reserve Battalion of the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. As a home based territorial unit he would have to have volunteered for Imperial service, which would allow him to serve overseas.
.	Local newspaper entries indicate that by 17th October 1914 Private G. Hollis had been promoted to the rank of Paid Lance Corporal at the time it was indicated that he was serving in E Company.
.	George was one of a number of Hunts. Cyclists who went to France on the 27 July 1916 = at the time he was a Private in B Co. 2/1st H.C.B. When he was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916. His previous military indicates that from 1903-1908 served in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps at Huntingdon, where he was a Corporal having the army number 2309. 31st March 1914 - 24th February 1919 served in Bedfordshire Regiment [Number 43400] and also in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. (TA) Private 212.43400. He served 4 years 331 days, and was "discharged surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service". He served "'overseas" where he sustained a gunshot wound that left a scar on his thigh, and Army form 2079 supports that he had "scar on the right thigh, result of gunshot wound" He also had "chevrons: three blue and 1 wound stripe"...... 21 July 1921 - 21 July 1927 George served in the TA, 5th Battalion the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was in the military band as well, playing the brass trombone. Research is continuing to establish if his brothers [listed below] served in the H.C.B. 1 THOMAS HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born on 25 Nov 1893 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, England. He died in July 1993 in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England. 2 CHARLES HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born about 1882. He died on 25 Mar 1918. He married MARTHA BAKER on 12 Oct 1903 in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. Charles was born 1882, Ramsey Forty Foot. He died 23/25 March 1918 on the Somme, France. Charles served as Pte no. 25589 in the Northampton Regiment before transferring as Pte no. 40965 in the 10th Battn of the Essex Regiment, where he was a trained sniper. He was buried on the 25th march 1918, KNG Memorial Roye, New Bridge Cemetery, Somme, France (Sp.Mem B.2.) He is remembered on both the Ramsey and Forty Foot War Memorials. 3 JOHN THOMAS HOLLIS (son of Elias Hollis and Mary Snitch) was born in 29th March 1883 in Forty feet Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. Also known as 'Jack'. He moved to Wisbech around 1911. Data on his service history was kindly provided by Lesley Hollis, who is the Granddaughter of George.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
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22/07/2017	.	.	*Martyn Smith* ©