Enlistment # A-3178
Private
Edmund John Holliday was born on August 29, 1919 in London, Ontario to Wilfred Charles Holliday and Beatrice Brown Holliday. He had auburn hair and brown eyes, and was affectionately known by his friends and family as Ted or Teddy. Edmund was the oldest of two children, his younger sister was named Bethell Anne. Edmund was very active in the Boy Scouts and was an avid stamp collector.
He attended Chelsey Avenue School in London. Edmund went to high school in London, later attending Beal Technical School to learn the printing trade. He worked part-time at an ice-cream soda parlour located on Hamilton Rd. in London. His father Wilfred was an army veteran of the Great War. He worked as a printer foreman for the Sommerville Company in London.
In 1939, the family moved to Oxford St. in Strathroy where Wilfred became the president of the Strathroy branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Wilfred bought a print shop on Frank Street. The Holliday Print Shop was intended to be Edmund’s Business once he completed his schooling in London.
In October 1939 Edmund enlisted at Wolsley Barracks in London with the Royal Canadian Regiment. His service number was A-3178, and he was a private in the 8th Army of his regiment under the command of General B.L. Montgomery. He went overseas in December of 1939 to train in England. While he was there, he married an English woman, Doreen Harrison on June 6, 1942. They had no children. Edmund wrote home frequently during the war and his letters were always cheerful.
He was killed in action on December 9, 1943, at the Battle of the Moro River during the fierce Battle for Ortona where the Royal Canadian Regiment suffered heavy casualties. Edmund was 24 years old when he died and he is buried at the Moro River Canadian Cemetery in Ortona Italy.
For a more detailed description, with battle maps, of the events of December 9th, 1943, see the web page, Holliday: Edmund’s Battle.
