WILLIAM LEAK HOLDEN
26 September 1898 - 4 January 1917
At School 1908 - 1915
2nd Lieut 19th Manchester Regiment
William was born in Manchester and in 1901, aged 2, was living at 7 Withington Road, Whalley Range, with father John, a Canadian Agent (Dry Goods) in the Textile trade, mother Annie, older sister Florence and two domestic servants. By 1911 the family had moved to 6 Athol Road, Whalley Range, William was attending School and Florence was a Music student. At School, William proved a superb sportsman, establishing a record in winning all four Athletics Challenge Cups from the China Cup in 1912 to the Gaskell Cup in 1915. These cups were awarded to the Champion Athlete in the year groups from Under 14 to Over 16. William also represented the School on the Lacrosse, Cricket and Football teams, in his final year being vice-captain of Football and Captain of Heywood House.
On leaving School William joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps , being appointed on 15th October 1915. Interestingly his date of birth on his application form was noted as 26th September 1897, making him appear 12 months older than he was, although this may just have been an error. He is described as 5 ft 9 inches tall, weighing 154 lbs with a chest measurement of 37 inches and a good physical development.
Bailleulval area about 15km south west of Arras. The war diary reports that on 30th December the Battalion was providing working parties in the front line for the continuation and improvement of the flank defences and outposts in respect of a new scheme of holding the line. January 1st was declared a General Holiday with no working parties or fatigues. On the 2nd, the Battalion relieved the 2nd Yorkshire Bn in the front line in


advise that he was missing. An unfortunate juxtaposition in The Times Casualties column of 12th January 1917 gave the family hope that he was a prisoner of war, but a reply from the War Office

commemorated by a memorial plaque placed in St Edmunds Church, Alexandra Road South, Whalley Range, inscribed: "To the Glory of God and in memory of William Leak Holden, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Manchester Regiment, who fell at Ransart, near Arras, on 5 January 1917 while fighting gallantly for his King and Country in the Great European War."
THE HULMEIAN - April 1917
Second Lieutenant W. L. Holden, Manchester Regiment, has been missing since January 4th. He had been a member of the Inns of Court O.T.C. for over a year, and had been only a few days at the front. He left the School at Midsummer, 1915, and is the present holder of the Gaskell Challenge Cup for Athletic Sports.
