2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Medal in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 22 March 1945.

The Burnley Express of 13 January 1945 reported: -

Military Medalist

C.S.M. Towneley Holden, of the Gloucestershire Regiment, whose wife and two children reside at 35, New Hall Street, Burnley, has been awarded the Military Medal for "personal courage and splendid leadership during an attack on Nispen last October". The citation also says: "Your conduct under fire was inspirational to the whole company." C.S.M. Holden, who landed in France ten days after D-Day, was in the East Lancashire Regiment from 1927 to 1930. In 1931 he joined the Manchester Police Force and was on the strength until he enlisted in the Army again three months after war was declared.

He was a member of St. Margaret's Church, and as a boy he attended Abel Street School and Alston's College.

His father, Mr. R. Holden, of 152, Colne Road, Brierfield, also won the Military Medal in the last war.

Towneley Holden enlisted into the East Lancashire Regiment on the 5 December 1927. The records show that he was a weaver by trade, born on the 18 March 1909. He transferred into the Gloucestershire Regiment on the 26 August 1944.

The official recommendation for an award reads, "On 27th October, 1944 the battalion was ordered to capture the village of NISPEN and open up the way to ROSENDAAL. CSM Holden's company led the assault and was met by intense shelling and mortar fire and was temporarily held up. Seeing this CSM Holden, regardless of all personal danger dashed to the front and led forward through the enemy barrage the leading platoon of the company in an extremely gallant manner until the objective was obtained. At all times during the attack the personal courage and leadership of CSM Holden was most inspiring and wherever sections of the company seemed liable to falter under the heavy fire CSM Holden appeared and by his courage, example and leadership inspired his troops to advance. CSM Holden remained forward with the troops until all objectives were taken, and still under heavy mortar fire reported accurately and coolly on the W/T set the positions attained. CSM Holden's conduct under fire was, throughout this battle, a great inspiration to the men of his company".

Date of recommendation was 27 November 1944.