Albert John Holtom

Albert was born in Small Heath, Birmingham. He was working as a baker when he enlisted in the Army Service Corps Motor Transport section, being accepted at Grove park where drivers were trained. He had married Rose Nora Burman on 12 Sep 1911 and had two children born in 1913 and 1915. After service in Mesopotamia and Afghanistan, with a promotion to Corporal, he was discharged in 1920.

After the war the family moved to Penarth and their bakery and confectioners, A J Holtom, became well known, particularly for their home made chocolates. They were initially in Plymouth Road where they had the Glendale cafe opposite the GWR station, before moving to Church Avenue, retaining the same phone number, Penarth 510, which was listed in ES Sadler's records.

Their eldest son, Thomas, was tragically killed in 1934 when his motorcycle combination was hit by a car while returning from taking part in a rowing regatta in Gloucester.

He was transport officer for the Air Raid Precautions, with his daughter Muriel also serving as an ambulance driver.