New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Frederick F. Holland of Manchester NH (1895-1918)

Frederick Francis Holland, born 26 February 1895 in Manchester NH, was the son of John J. & Bridget (Quinn) Holland, and grandson of Irish immigrants John & Bridget (Haggarty) Holland. Frederick’s father was a native of the city, and driver of wagons and heavy trucks.

The family lived at 201 Green Street, where Frederick grew up and attended school. Frederick had several siblings including John Sherman Holland (1893-1937), Mary Holland (1900-1939) and Mildred (Holland) Mahoney (1904-1976) who m. James F. Mahoney.

On June 5, 1917 Frederick F. Holland filled out his WW1 Registration card, and was living at 201 Green Street in Manchester NH. He was a demonstrator for Lorillard Co., (a cigarette manufacturer), he was single, and he named his mother as next of kin.

Frederick F. Holland served as a private 1c in the regular army, Co. B, 103rd Infantry, 26th Division. They sailed from American ports in September of 1917, and by early October had arrived in Europe. Training was given first. Then Frederick would have been on the battlefront at Soissons, followed by Toul, Chateau-Thierry, and St. Mihiel. He survived some horrible days of heavy fighting.

Like so many other young men in the trenches, he died of disease, rather than battle wounds.  Though it is not stated, it was probably influenza which killed him.  He died 18 Dec 1918,  only 37 days after the end of the war [Armistice, Nov 11, 1918].

Boston Herald news from 12 January 1919 announcing the death of Frederick F. Holland from disease.

The American newspapers did not announce his death for another month, on 11 January 1919. Frederick was probably originally buried near his hospital location. Most remains were not send to the United States until 1921, and most probably that is when Frederick was, in the old St. Joseph Cemetery.  In 1931 a headstone was ordered by his mother and shipped to Henry J. Sweeney Post #2 A.L. in Manchester, to be placed on his grave.

[Editor’s note: This Frederick F. Holland is not to be confused with another Frederick F. Holland of Rockingham County who survived the war.]

For additional stories of Manchester NH military in World War I, see: New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Manchester.

[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I.  Look here for the entire listing].