Rifleman
Glenford Neily Holdright
Rifleman Glenford Neily Holdright was born May 31st, 1921 in Maitland Bridge to Elheanon and Zora (nee Lewis) Holdright. Neily, as he was called, had a deceased older sister Rona, and three brothers; Hazen, Robert, and Hector. The family was Baptist and operated a small farm and butchery business. Neily was working on the family farm for his father when he enlisted. He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall (180 cm), weighed 158 pounds (72 kg), and had brown eyes and brown hair.
Neily enlisted in the Brockville Rifles on November 19th, 1943, at 22 years old. He was given the rank of Rifleman (Private) and the Regimental number F-11005, and commenced his basic training in Yarmouth.
In April 1944, Rifleman Holdright finished his qualifications on the rifle, and on July 8th, 1944, he was “Granted permission to marry Miss Hettie "Marie" Rawding on or after August 7th”. His deployment date was moved to July 22nd, so Rifleman Holdright and Marie were married in what the Liverpool Advance reports was “a pretty but quiet wedding at Kentville on July13th. Rifleman Holdright has returned to his camp at Aldershot and Mrs Holdright (Marie) will reside at Maitland Bridge with Mr and Mrs Elheanon Holdright for the present”.
Rifleman Holdright joined his Unit, the Brockville Rifles in late July or early August 1944 in Kingston, Jamaica. The Unit was in Jamaica for garrison duty in defence of Jamaica itself.
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On September 22nd, 1944, while Rifleman Holdright was part of a five-man crew training to fire two-inch mortars, one of the mortar shells exploded in the barrel. Rifleman Holdright perished in the explosion. He was 23 years old. One other member of the crew also perished, and the remaining three crew members were severely injured. A board of inquiry did not determine a cause for the explosion.
Rifleman Holdright and his wife Marie had been married just two months at the time of his death, and Marie became a widow at 21 years old. She would have received a telegram with news of his death, but there is not a copy in his records. On October 18th, 1944, Marie was sent a letter with official confirmation of his death.
His death occurring so soon after his marriage, Rifleman Holdright had not yet changed his will, so his estate was bequeathed to his mother, Zora. Elheanon and Zora had signed over a War Bond to Marie, so it is likely they also gave her Rifleman Holdright’s estate. Marie received Rifleman Holdright’s war Medals; the War Medal 1939-45, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with Clasp). She and Zora Holdright were each awarded the Memorial Cross Medal (also known as the Silver Cross).
Rifleman Holdright is interred at grave 333, Plot J in the Kingston (Up Park Camp) Military Cemetery near Kingston, Jamaica.
Rifleman Glenford Neily Holdright is commemorated on page 337 of the World War Two Book of Remembrance. He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph.
Note that Rifleman Holdright went by his middle name, which was spelled Nealey on his military documents and Neiley by his widow. But in the 1931Census and in his enlistment signature it was spelled Neily, so this page uses Neily for his profile.
Online References
War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2259249/glenford-nealey-holdright/
Local Grave Search - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60000840/glenford-nealey-holdright
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149966898/glenford-neilly-holdright
Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial
Second World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 16.8 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=16167&ecopy=44485_273022002859_0039-00162
