11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 1st September 1916.

Speak was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.

From the Burnley News of 13th September 1916 and the Burnley Express of 19 September 1916, Reward for Bravery - Won by soldier son of Burnley licensee. The Military Medal has been won by Private Holford Speak, son of Mr. H. Speak, the licensee of the Victoria Inn, Colne Road, Burnley, who is now in hospital in Derby. "Private Speak sought the shelter of a shell hole from the heavy fire during the attack on the German lines at Serre. Shortly after reaching cover, he heard a comrade over the top crying for help. Though he himself was suffering from a bullet wound to the hand, he returned to the open field to the assistance of his comrade, there to sustain a further knockout blow, this time from shrapnel. Speak received dangerous wounds to the left side of his body". He was taken to Boulogne and afterwards transferred to England. Happily he is said to be progressing favourably.