Information has been received of the death in action of Pte. Israel Holden, a young man particularly well known in the Cowpe district of Waterfoot.
The intimation of his death has come to his wife at Constable Lee in which neighbourhood Pte. Holden has resided since his marriage, and up to the time of his enlistment. He was a native of Cowpe and up to leaving a short time ago was a teacher at Cowpe Sunday school and a member of the Waterfoot branch of the C.E.M.S.
He enlisted in the 3rd Lancashire Fusiliers on February 11th, 1915 and went out to France six months ago. The official intimation states that he was killed in action on July 7th.
The deceased soldier had worked at Messrs. Rowland /Rawlinsons, Myrtle Grove Mill for about 20 years. His death recalls the fact that shortly before the outbreak of war his younger brother, Mr. Fred Holden, emigrated to Australia. Soon after the war began his sister, Miss Mary Alice Holden, of Springside, Cowpe, received a letter from him saying that he had joined the colours and that he was in Egypt. Since then nothing has been heard of him.
Pte. Israel Holden leaves a widow and one child.

No information available

Mrs Holgate, of 217 Burnley Road, Constable Lee, has received a letter from a captain of the East Lancashire Regiment in France, informing her that her husband Sergt. Fred Holgate had been killed.
The letter which refers to the deceased soldier in terms of high praise is as follows:- Dear Madame – It is great sorrow that I write to tell you that your husband, Sergt. Holgate was killed in the attack on Saturday April 28th. He was slightly wounded on the 23rd, but like the great hearted man that he was, remained at duty, and on Saturday he was killed instantaneously by a bullet through the head.
Your husband reached the rank of sergeant more quickly than any man I ever met. I was much impressed by the value of his work in an affair near Beaumont Hamel in November that I marked him for speedy promotion. His untiring energy and never failing cheerfulness were wonderful to see. I never can forget the last night we stood in the trenches. After a week of misery and cold we expected to be relieved, and at the last moment we heard that we would have to stand another night there. I detailed your husband for the most unpleasant job, that of holding a series of shell holes, 300 yards in front of the line, and he got his party together so cheerfully that one would have thought he enjoyed the work.
He would have certainly have got the D.C.M. for his work in this last show if had been killed, but unfortunately the V.C. is the only decoration which is given to the dead. I shall recommend him very strongly for mention in despatches as one of the finest men and finest soldiers I have ever met. But so few are mention in despatches that I cannot be sure anything will come of it. You have my most sincere sympathy in your terrible loss, which has been a great blow to me also.
Sergt. Holgate, who was well-known in the Rawtenstall district, was in the employment of Mr G. H. Whittaker, hardware dealer, of Bank Street, Rawtenstall, as a salesman. He joined the East Lancashires, February 28th 1916, and was out to France in July the same year.
He was 31 years of age last March.

No information available

We sincerely regret to learn that Private Hartley Holt (son of Mr. and Mrs. Holt of West View) has paid the supreme sacrifce. The sad news was received on Tuesday that Pte Holt had been killed in France. Mr and Mrs. Holt have the universal sympathy of the neighbourhood.

They have previously lost a son and son in law. The deceased young man was married, and sympsthy will also be extended to his widow, who is at present resideding in the Rawtenstall district.

The news that Pte. Herbert Holt, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, had died of wounds, came in a letter received by his relatives from the chaplain of the regiment. In the course of the letter the chaplain says that Pte. Holt was admitted into the Casualty clearing Station on the 6th November, suffering from a penetrating wound in the eye, and that a piece of shell must have passed into the brain. He did not suffer much (continues the chaplain) and passed away peacefully at about 3-30 on the 7th inst. His remains were interred in a cemetery in that town on the 9th inst.
Pte. Holt joined the forces in May 1916, and was drafted to the front in June 1917.
He formerly carried on a master-painter’s and paperhangers business at 127 Mill End, Waterfoot, where he succeeded the former proprietor, Mr Hitchen. When he was called up he disposed of his business. He was connected with the Wesleyan Church at Newchurch.
Private Holt, who was twenty-nine years of age, resided at 20 Turnpike Road, Newchurch. He was the brother of Mr J. R. Holt of Dean Height Farm, Waterfoot, and a sister is Mrs Raynor of 16 Turnpike, Newchurch.