Harold Edward was born on 5 August 1908 in Stanmore,Sydney . Holt completed his schooling from Nubba State School . After one year of schooling at Nubba State School he went to Abbotsholme College, a private school in Killara where he studied for three years . In 1920, Holt went to Wesley College, Melbourne. He won a scholarship in his final year and graduated second in his class 