LANCE CORPORAL EDWARD HOLT HOLME
MANCHESTER REGIMENT
1ST JULY 1916 AGE 28
BURIED: DANZIG ALLEY BRITISH CEMETERY, MAMETZ, FRANCE
The inscription is a quotation from George Meredith's 'The Thrush in February'. The poem itself is in a sense a Darwinian exposition of the purposes of life - to work throughout the generations for greater civilization, greater humanity. To this end, there are those who cleave the way and those who follow, "we breathe but to be sword or block". However, whilst this may be the meaning of the poem I believe the meaning of the inscription his father chose is much simpler, though very beautifully expressed - his son might be dead but he will not be forgotten.
Edward Holme was an engineering clerk before the war. He joined the 20th Battalion the Manchester Regiment, formed in November 1914, and after training crossed with them to France in November 1915. After a relatively quiet time, the regiment took part in the attack on 1 July 1916 in which 110 members of the regiment, including Edward Holme, were killed.