HOLMAN, RICHARD C, Captain, was born
at Upwey 26 September 1861, eldest son of F Holman, of Biddenden, Kent, and
grandson of Dr Puckett, Medical Officer for Dorsetshire. He was educated at
King's College, London. He served in the ranks of Methuen's Horse in the
Bechuanalaud Expedition of 1884-85; in the New South Wales Police Force,
1886-88. He went to South Africa with the 1st New South Wales Mounted
Troops, as Regimental Sergeant-Major, 1899, and took part in the Relief of
Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including
operations at Paardeberg, actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Karee
Skiing, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal
in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and
Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, west of
Pretoria, July to November 1900, including actions at Venterskroon and
Elands River; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to November 1900,
including action at Wittebergen. He was promoted in the field to
Captain and Adjutant of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, and served with
them in operations in the Transvaal from April 1901 till the end of the
war. He was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal; the Queen's Medal with six clasps, and was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette 31
October 1902]: "Richard Holman, Captain, New South Wales Mounted Rifles. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". Major
Holman was appointed Brigade Major, 3rd Light Horse Brigade, on the
Instructional Staff, Commonwealth Military Forces of Australia, 1 October
1911. He subsequently became Commandant of the Concentration Camps, 2nd
Military District, and for his services was given the Brevet of Lieutenant
Colonel 13 September 1915. In 1890 Major Holman married Harriette Blanche,
eldest daughter of R
Mills, of Sydney and Nova Scotia, and they had one son and three daughters.
