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In memory of:

Corporal John Holden

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Citation(s);

Military Medal (MM)

Military service

Service number: 50429
Age: 41
Rank: Corporal
Force: Army
Unit/Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
Division: 21st Bn.
Birth: September 22, 1876 Preston, Lancashire, England
Enlistment: November 11, 1914 Kingston, Ontario
Death: August 8, 1918 France

Burial/memorial information

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY
Grave reference: XVI. C. 5.
Additional information
Son of George and Rachael Holden, of Preston, Lancashire, England. Husband of Elizabeth Ann Holden, of Port Hope, Ontario. Corporal Holden was in charge of the choir at St. John's Church, Port Hope, as Choirmaster until his enlistment and was a valued member of the Port Hope Band. Corporal Holden saw service in the South Africa War as a volunteer with the St. John's Ambulance Brigade.
Additional citations

Queen Victoria Silver Medal (Boer War),
St. John's Ambulance Bronze Medal (Boer War), Military Medal, London Gazette dated 29 November 1917
"On August 15th - 18th, 1917. For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On four different occasions this NCO went out and carried in wounded on his back. Later on, being alone and unable to get the wounded in, he organized a party of the enemy and under his direction they were enabled to evacuate the wounded. All of this work was under heavy shell fire and at a time when every available man had been taken to drive off a counter attack. This NCO's work through the operation, lasting four days, was characterized by cheerfulness, sympathy and a total disregard of self".

Related media

First World War (1914 – 1918)

In the Books of Remembrance

Commemorated on:

Page 430 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY Somme, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village 16 kilometres east of Amiens on the straight main road to St Quentin. The Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery is about 2 kilometres north of the village on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

 

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