HOLDNALL Cedric George

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

The following information has been researched by The Black Country Society:
Cedric Holdnall was the son of George and Mary Ann Holdnall of 27 Attwood Street, Lye. He was called up in 1944 and posted to the Herefordshire Regiment in 11th Armoured Division. The Herefords were motorised infantry and had fought in some of the fiercest fighting in N.W. Europe since the Normandy invasion. In November and December 1944 they had been involved in the Lower Rhine campaign, a frustrating and bitterly contested series of advances among the low-lying villages of eastern Holland. After refitting in January they were given the task of destroying the German defences in the Hochwald. In a five day battle at the beginning of March they had to put up with heavy rain, thick forest and bogs, all of which aided the fanatical resistance. After a month’s rest they came to the front again for the battle of the Teutoburger Wald. More fanatical resistance caused serious casualties, although the British advance was not halted. On the next stage of the advance the Herefords, with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, had crossed the River Weser and were holding a bridgehead. As his Company Commander then wrote, €œ15 Platoon with Pte Holdnall were ordered to clear a house. They attacked with 2 Sections and within 50 yards of the objective came under heavy and accurate Spandau fire.€ Among the casualties was Private Cedric Holdnall who was killed instantly.