Private Alfred Holden
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not clear. He appears, however, to be the Alfred Holden born on 11 December 1896 at Cloghmore, Rosslea, County Fermanagh, the fourth of seven children of sexton and farmer Thomas Holden and his wife Margaret (née Gordon). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cloghmore with his parents and six siblings and working on the family farm.
Holden enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 10 and 12 August 1914 (No.989 – later Corps of Hussars No.71187). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 17 August 1914, less than a week after his enlistment, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
C Squadron served as corps headquarters cavalry until April 1915, when it was attached as divisional cavalry to the 3rd Division. In June 1916 it joined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, attached as corps cavalry to X Corps.
Holden remained with the regiment throughout the war, having prior to mid-1917 either transferred to one of the three squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, or returned to Ireland sick or injured and and then serving at the regiment's Antrim reserve depot.
He was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 16 February 1919.
After the war Holden moved to England. At the time of the 1921 Census he was visiting engineering clerk John Elliott, his wife Sarah and their daughter Elizabeth Jane, at 28 Curzon St, Gateshead, County Durham. He gave his occupation as a farmer at his home in Clones, County Fermanagh. Two years later he married Elizabeth in Gateshead. At the time of the 1939 Register the couple was living at 17 Southend Terrace, Gateshead, with their two children and Elizabeth's mother, Alfred working as a master builder. He died there three years later.
Two of Holden's brothers also served in the North Irish Horse – Joseph Holden and John Holden. Both are included on the Roll of Honour in the Clogh Church of Ireland Church, Rosslea. Alfred's name, however, is not included.
Image (showing the Alfred Holden from Rosslea), sourced from Ancestry public member trees, contributor Andrew Drysdale.
This page last updated 9 February 2024.