Private William Holden.
5681 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Died of Wounds 16th March 1915, aged 28.
William was born in the Dec quarter of 1886 in Clitheroe. The son of Holden and Mary Alice Bradley. In the 1891 the family were living at 16 William Square off Ann Mill(?). Mary 46 married weaver, born in Hurst Green, Joseph T 17 weaver, George 6, and William 4 all born in Clitheroe, Lancs.
By the 1901 census the family had moved to 65 Clark St, Burnley. Mary 55,George 16 weaver, William 14 and James Duff a boarder.
In the 1911 census Mary Alice was a widow, William 24 weaver and two boarders, Margaret and Mary O’Brien, living at 12 Cambridge St, Brierfield.
From the Burnley Express dated 17th April 1915: THE DEATH ROLL – DIED FROM WOUNDS - A CATHOLIC BRIGADE BOY
Formerly for a considerable period connected with the Burnley Roman Catholic Boys Brigade, news has been received in Burnley this week of the death, from wounds received in action, which occurred on March 15th, of Private William Holden 5681, of the 2nd East Lancs. Regt., who prior to enlisting in June last resided with a brother at 20 South St Burnley, and a pathetic circumstance in connection with his death is that he was engaged to be married.
28 years of age, Private Holden who was well known in Burnley and Brierfield, sometime ago worked as a weaver at Mr J Simpson’s Mill in Whittlefield, and a second sad feature is that after enlisting in June, his people never again had the opportunity of seeing him. He was drafted to the front towards the end of Nov., and his last letter arrived about 5 weeks ago. He is believed to be the first Catholic Brigade Boy to be killed in the war.
Private Holden has two brothers, Privates George and J T Holden also serving in the East Lancashire’s, and two cousins from Padiham are in the same Regiment.
Lived at 20 South Street.
William was buried in Merville Communal Cemetery & Extension, France: Grave Ref; II.H.2.Brother of Mr. Joseph Holden, of 14, Humphrey St., Brierfield, Burnley.
