Arthur Holden
1901 - labourer (dyers)
1911 - general labourer (tobacco manufacturer)
Member Royal Ancient Order of Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Arthur Holden was born in 1871 at Bulwell, Nottingham.
He married Sarah Preston (b. 1878), the daughter of George and Harriet Preston (née Clarke), in 1898 (reg. Loughborough). The couple had three sons, one of whom died in infancy: Frederick William b. 1899 (AMJ) bap. Loughborough Emmanuel 7 May 1899, and George Baden R. b. 1900 (JAS) d. 1900 (JAS), who were both born in Loughborough, and Arthur b. 1905 (JAS) who was born in Nottingham.
Arthur (30), a dyers' labourer, Sarah (22) and their son Frederick (2) were living at 21 Granville Street, Nottingham, in 1901. Also in the household was Sarah's widowed father, George Preston (64 b. Loughborough) a bricklayers' labourer, whose wife Harriet had died in 1899.
The family had moved to 8 Kennington Terrace, Gadd Street, by 1911: Arthur, a tobacco manufacturer's labourer, Sarah, and their sons, William and Arthur, who were school age. Sarah's father, George, was living with his married daughter, Harriet and her husband William Arthur Wade (m. 1884), in Loughborough.
Arthur snr. died in June 1920 and in 1921 his widow Sarah and their sons were living at 4 Gadd Street. Frederick (22) was a horseman for J Goode (coal merchant) and Arthur an errand boy for Kempton upholsterers.
Frederick married Lilian M Barker (b. 1892) in 1923 (reg. JFM Nottingham); they had two daughters, Sylvia J. b. 1923 (JAS) and Phyllis V. b. Jan. 1925. Frederick died in 1937 (AMJ Nottingham) aged 37.
Sarah Holden was still living at 4 Gadd Street, Nottingham, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; she was a shopkeeper (general) on her own account. Also in the household were her widowed daughter-in-law, Lilian (occupation unpaid domestic duties), and her granddaughters Sylvia, a truck hand (tobacco), and Phyllis, a machinest learner.
Phyllis Holden died in 1944. Her sister Sylvia married Ronald A Wallington in 1945 and died in 2001 (JFM Basford). Their mother Lilian Holden died in 1958 (OND Nottingham).
Sarah Holden died on 9 January 1970, aged 91. The notice of her death gave her address as 318 Derby Road, formerly of 4 Gadd Street.
Arthur Holden enlisted on 26 October 1914 and served with the 2/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).
He was discharged from the Army on 30 July 1918; reason of discharge King's Regulation 392 (xvi) Para. Army Order Sickness A.I: Arthur was suffering from nephritis, a condition in which the kidneys become inflamed; this can affect the filter of excess water and waste. Arthur was issued with Silver War Badge (Number 381807).
He died on 4 June 1920 and was buried on 8 June in Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref. 03326).
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Sarah Holden, of 4, Gadd St., Radford, Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 June 1920: ‘Holden. On June 4th, Arthur Holden, the beloved husband of Sarah Holden, 4 Gadd-street, aged 49 years. Peace after pain.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Public Notices’, 5 June 1920: ‘R.A.O.B. G.L.E. – Bro. A Holden, will be interred at General Cemetery, Tuesday 8th. Brothers meet at bottom gates. One o’clock in Regalia.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 17 February 1944: ‘Holden. Mrs Holden and Family sincerely thank relatives, friends and neighbours, employees and staff of John Player and Sons, also Beals, Peveril-street, the Civil Defence for kind letters of sympathy and floral tributes in their great loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The details in this notice make it probable that it refers to Phyllis V Holden, daughter of Frederick William and Lilian M Holden.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 January 1970: ‘Holden. Sarah, 318 Derby Road, Bramcote (late of 4 Gadd Street, Nottingham), passed peacefully away January 9th, 1970, aged 91 years. Sorrowing family. Service and interment, Bulwell Cemetery, Thursday 11a.m. Flowers to Clowers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research and information Peter Gillings. Further research/ record updated RF (Oct. 2026)
Arthur Holden
Grave, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph courtesy Peter Gillings