Saturday, February 20, 1915
In Billets, Flêtre
The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade inspected by Gen. Sir John French in field near Caestre. Apparently much pleased. Stated that if we could fight as well as we looked, he was sorry for the Germans. Capt. Holt, Adjutant, rejoined battalion, having managed to get War Office to send him over without waiting for vacancy to occur.” [1]
THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY: The second of the three sons of Sir Herbert Samuel Holt (1856-1941), and his wife Jessie Paton, Major Andrew Paton Holt (b.1893), was named for his maternal grandfather. All three sons were graduates of the Royal Military College, Kingston. “Andrew Holt attended RMC [No. 845] from 1909 to 1913 and on graduation entered the business world. On the outbreak of War in 1914 he joined the 14th Battalion and served throughout the war in various staff appointments. He had a rare business acumen and was one of the wealthiest men in Canada. His financial interests were in banking, films, electrical power, newspapers, hotels, chemicals and other fields in both Canada and England. He served in several of the British Ministries as an advisor. He was a life member of the RMC Club. Major Andrew Holt died from a heart attack in London, England, on 12 September 1964.” [2]
[1] War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Feb 20, 1915. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089694.jpg
[2] “Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario - Review Yearbook – Class of 1965” http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Royal_Military_College_Canada_Review_Yearbook/1965/Page_178.html