[2] His father, Lt.-Col. Walter Holbech of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, was on active duty at the time of his birth.
His maternal grandfather, Sir John Walrond, Bt., was MP for Tiverton, in east Devon.
[9] In August 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, Holbech rejoined the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards, stationed at the Tower of London.
He was repatriated to London, but died at the Royal Herbert Hospital in Greenwich on 1 November, after his wound became septic.
Holbech was buried at St Botolph churchyard, following a lavish funeral at Farnborough Hall.