217945 L/Cpl. James Holland British Army 10th Btn. Cheshire Regiment from:Northwich, Cheshire (d.30th May 1916) James Holland was executed for cowardice on 30/05/16 age 31 and buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont St Eloi, France. James Holland had been in this area in April 1916 when fighting had broken out with the Germans blowing a mine under Holland’s Company. After a brief spell away from the trenches Holland’s battalion was sent back to the front at the beginning of May. Charged with guarding an advanced position with four soldiers under his command, his little party was surprised by a pair of German soldiers entering the trench. Holland ran back shouting that his position had been over run. However the sentry had put the possibly lost Germans to flight. Holland was arrested for cowardice and desertion of his post. Despite a previously good record and a favourable report from his Commanding Officer, he was executed on the 30th May.
He was the son of Mary and Samuel Holland, who lived at Northwich. Apparently his family called him Edwin and stated he was KIA so to avoid scandal associated with his so called "crime". He was also a clerk at Rode Hall in Cheshire. The book "Shot at Dawn" notes that he regularly attended the Wesleyan church in Northwich, quoting as sources, the Northwich Chronicle of 10 June 1916 and the Northwich Guardian of 6 June.
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