Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Flight Sergeant W. C. Holding, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, twice mentioned in despatches

1914-15 Star (2371 1.A.M. W. G. Holding, R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (2371 Sgt. W. C. Holding, R.A.F.); Khedive’s Sudan 1910-22, 2nd issue, no clasp (2371 1/A.M. C. W. Holding, R.F.C.) note variation in initials, nearly very fine and better (4) £1200-1500

William Charles Holding, who was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in November 1914, and was advanced to Air Mechanic 1st Class in July 1915. Posted overseas in November 1915, it is confirmed from the respective Khedive’s Sudan 1910 medal roll (ref WO 100/407) that William served in Egypt and Sudan in support of the Darfur operations between March to December 1916, for which 23 members of No. 17 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, were awarded the medal with clasp, and another 37 members of the same squadron received no clasp medals.

After his service in Egypt and Sudan, William embarked for Salonika, in which theatre he was advanced to Sergeant in February 1917 and was ‘Mentioned-in-Despatches’ by Milne (London Gazette 28 November 1917 refers), and possibly connected to services in which he received a severe eye wound in August of the same year (telegram from the O.C. of 18 Stationary Hospital refers). Transferred to the newly established Royal Air Force as a Chief Mechanic in April 1918, he won a second Mention-in-Despatches’ this time from General Allenby for services in Palestine while operating with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between 19 September 1918 to 31 January 1919 (London Gazette 5 March 1919 refers). His earlier wound, however, developed serious complications, and as a consequence he was discharged in April 1919 as a result of the ‘loss of an eye’. He was awarded the Silver War Badge (No. 10319).

With copied service papers and other research.