210863 Lt. Robert Leslie Holtby British Army 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders from:Beverly, E. Yorks Robert Leslie Holtby was comissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders on the 20th November 1943, he was 19 years old.
Robert sailed out to join the 2nd Battalion at Anzio in May 1944. He told us that he arrived in the Anzio pocket in the morning, met his platoon at lunchtime and led his platoon into battle in the afternoon. He must have done well, because The London Gazette records his promotion to War Substansive Leuitenant, effective 20th May 1944.
Shortly after this Robert volunteered for special duties and was posted to No 2 SAS for the remainder of the War, making mischief behind enemy lines leading a patrol of heavily armed jeeps.
He relinquished his commission in 1947, being granted the honorary rank of Captain and went home to farm at Dowthorpe Hall. He later joined the East Yorkshire Regiment Territorial Army and rose to command a Company as a Major, finally finishing his unformed service in 1958. However, he continued to serve the community as a magistrate, High Sheriff of Humberside and Deputy Lord Leuitenant.
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