John Holden

John Holden MM

John Holden came to Canada in the year 1908, settling first in Toronto and then Port Hope the same year. John was choirmaster at St. John's Church, Port Hope, and a valued member of the Port Hope Band. He was employed until enlistment at the Standard Ideal Company as a molder.

Having seen service in the Boer War, where he won the Queen Victoria Silver Medal and the St. John's Ambulance Bronze Medal, he enlisted with the 21st Battalion, C.E.F., as a private and on arriving overseas was immediately transferred to the Army Medical Corps. Afterwards he joined his own regiment, taking charge of the stretcher bearers and medical supplies. He was employed as a field dresser at the advance dressing station.

It was while dressing wounds during the advance at Marcelcave on the Amiens front that Corporal Holden met his death. The deed of merit for which he won the Military Medal is thus officially stated in the Military Gazette of London, England, dated 19 November 1917:- "On August 15-18, 1917. For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On four different occasions this N.C.O. 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 counterattack. This N.C.O.'s work throughout the operation, lasting four days, was characterized by cheerfulness, sympathy and a total disregard of self." His body lies at Marcelcave, France.

Photo and text above reproduced with permission

The above is taken from the "Book of Remembrance (A record of the men of Port Hope who participated in the Great War of 1914-1918)" by James A. Elliott, Chairman of Committee, Port Hope, Jan. 1st, 1919.

Standing L-R Albert Gloyne and William Redburn
Seated L-R John Holden and Charles Gloyne

Summary of Service Record


Sep 22, 1876	Born at Preston, Lancashire, England
Nov 11, 1914	Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario Ø Number 50429 o Note that there is some confusion in the record as to whether he attested into the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) or the 21^st Battalion. He was initially given the number 434, but in April of 1915 that was changed to 373, then in May of 1915 it was changed to 59471 on arrival in England. Immediately following that it was again changed, this time to the final number of 50429, which is in the series of numbers assigned to the CAMC. It appears that when this happened, he was attached to the 21^st Battalion as a stretcher bearer. o To further confuse the issue, the medical form which is dated Nov 11, 1914, clearly shows his unit as the CAMC, and his number 50429, but having transferred from the 21^st Battalion. o His pay record shows him being paid by the 21^st Battalion from Nov 11, 1914 right up until May 1915, and indicates that he is a member of the Base Unit of the 21^st Battalion. Ø Next of kin given as Elizabeth A Holden (wife) of Port Hope Ontario o This address was later changed to 225 St Paul’s Road, Preston, Lancashire, England Ø Previous occupation given as Moulder Ø Previous military experience given as being in the Royal Ambulance Brigade in the South African War Ø Religion given as Church of England
May 1, 1915	Pay sheet indicates that he is a member of the Headquarters Company of 21^st Battalion
May 6, 1915	Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec
May 15, 1915	Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
Sep 14, 1915	Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkstone for France
Sep 15, 1915	Disembarked at Boulogne France
Jan 31, 1916	Granted 9 days leave in England
Feb 10, 1916	Rejoined battalion from leave
Jul 15, 1916	Is transferred to the 21^st Battalion from the CAMC
Aug 17, 1916	Promoted to rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Clifford, 59170, who reverted to the rank of Pte.
Sep 15, 1916	Admitted to No 9 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a shrapnel wound to the neck, then transferred to No 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
Sep 16, 1916	Transferred via AT 16 (Ambulance Transport) and admitted to No 8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux
Sep 18, 1916	Transferred to No 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne
Sep 21, 1916	Discharged from hospital to CBD (Convalescent Base Details)
Sep 23, 1916	Last Will and Testament made out leaving entire estate to his wife.
Oct 1, 1916	Left CBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in the field
Oct 4, 1916	Joined 2^nd Entrenching Battalion
Oct 5, 1916	Left 2^nd Entrenching Battalion to join unit
Oct 6, 1916	Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field
Jul 5, 1917	Granted 10 days leave
Jul 18, 1917	Rejoined unit from leave
Nov 19, 1917 Awarded the Military Medal as per London Gazette #30367
Feb 13, 1918	Granted 14 days leave
Feb 28, 1918	Rejoined unit from leave
Aug 8, 1918	Corporal John Holden was killed during the battalion's capture of Marcelcave, France and was buried in the Midway Corner Cemetery, north west of Marcelcave. Thank you Philippe Gruit for assisting in finding location of this now empty cemetery.
	When the war ended the Midway Corner Cemetery was emptied and John Holden's remains were exhumed and reburied in the Villers-Bretenneux Military Cemetery He is also honoured on the Port Hope, Ontario War Memorial
Nov 1, 1918	Pension for wife approved in the amount of $576.00 per year
	1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Death Plaque and Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his wife at Box 163, Port Hope Ontario

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada. The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.

Below on the left is the name of John Holden being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.