Name
Ernest John Holden
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18747
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY
II. M. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
High Wych Village Memorial
Pre War
Ernest Holden was also known as ‘Johnny’ was born at Hand Lane, High Wych in 1897.
Wartime Service
In 1914, Ernest enlisted as a ‘Kitchener’ volunteer into the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.
In 1916, Ernest’s Battalion was a part of the 30th Division and on 1 July 1916 was in action on the first day of the Somme offensive. This day the British took nearly 60,000 casualties, however, unlike most of the assault, Ernest’s division was fairly successful as it used different assault tactics. The 2nd Bedfordshire’s were in support for the first wave and achieved many gains. The casualties were still heavy though and the Battalion diary records that most of these were through enemy shellfire. Ernest was one of these casualties, being killed in action.
Ernest had a girlfriend, ‘Frankie’ Nottage. She was one of three sisters who lived at the ‘Hand and Crown’, and all were to become nurses in France.
Ernest Holden is buried at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France. He was aged 19.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Douglas Coe
