1/4th Battalion and 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 2 April 1919.

The citation, published in the Edinburgh Gazette of 11 December 1919 reads, "Near Briastre, on the night of 19/20 October, 1918, he led a platoon with great gallantry in face of heavy fire against a stong enemy position. On the final objective he located an enemy machine-gun post in the front of the battalion that was enfilading our line. He led a party of six men against the post, and by his determined assault captured one officer and four other ranks of the enemy, together with three machine-guns. He did fine work."

Holdsworth was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.