WWI Pair. Holden. Kings Royal Rifles Corps. C Prefix, (Pals Battalion)

Correctly named C8046 Pte A Holden KRRC

Alan served with the 1st Bn and later transferred to the 20th Bn.

We see in October 1916, he is hospitalised due to inflammation of the connective tissue in his legs.

The C prefix denotes service with the 16 Bn ‘Church Lads’ Brigade.

It is estimated that around 50,000 Brigade Lads served in the First World War, during which many honors and distinctions were awarded. The Brigade contributed two Service Battalions of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps whose members were comprised entirely of past and present members of the Church Lads’ Brigade. These were known as ‘Pals’ Battalions.

Two Battalions were formed entirely from serving and ex-members of the Church Lad’s Brigade. The 16th (Service) Battalion and later the 19th (Service) Battalion, both sponsored by the Church Lads’ Brigade, became known as ‘The Churchmen’s Battalion’.

In 1914 no one could have imagined the horrendous stories that would unfold from the bloody massacre at so many notorious battles across Belgium and the fields of Flanders. Ypres, Passchendaele, Somme, Arras, Lys, and the brutal decimation of the battalion during the hell of the fighting at High Wood. No one could have imagined the discomfort and disease brought on by living in a trench full of water for days on end, or ‘over the top’ through acres of knee-high mud. More than 24 of the Church Lads’ Brigade were awarded a Victoria Cross for their bravery, but by 1918 many of those gallant young Lads would not return home.

The pair is his full entitlement.

Both medals have modern replacement ribbons.