Edgar Charles HOLMES

HOLMES, Edgar Charles

Service Number: 4115
Enlisted: 16 July 1915
Last Rank: Lance Corporal
Last Unit: 59th Infantry Battalion
Born: Sandford, Victoria, Australia, November 1890
Home Town: Merino, Glenelg, Victoria
Schooling: Sandford SS, Essendon HS, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: State School Teacher
Died: Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Casterton War Memorial, Essendon High School HR, Merino Dibgy Honour Roll, Merino War Memorial, Parkville Old State College Memorial Windows, Sandford School Honour Roll, Sandford St Mary's Roll of Honor, Sandford War Memorial, St. Arnaud High School House Captains Memorial, St. Arnaud High School Roll of Honour WWI, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial
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World War 1 Service

16 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4115, Depot Battalion
7 Mar 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4115, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: ''
7 Mar 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4115, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne
19 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4115, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4115 awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-07-19

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Graduated as Bachelor of Arts from the Teacher's Training College, where he won the Gladman Prize,  He enlisted from the High School at Essendon in 1916 after having previously been twice refused.

Lance Corporal Edgar C. Holmes, B.A. who was born in 1893 and won the Gladman Prize at Teacher's College.  In 1912 appointed to St. Arnaud Higher Elementary School.  Enlisted 16th July 1915.  Killed in France on 19th July 1916.

Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley

"Lance-Corporal Edgar C. Holmes, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Holmes, of Merino, was born in 1893. He began his education at the Sandford School, where he ultimately became a junior teacher.

He entered the Teachers' College in 1909, and he graduated successfully, winning, in 1911, the Gladman Prize. Appointed in 1912 head teacher at Mokepilly, he remained only a few weeks, being transferred to St. Arnaud on the opening there of the higher elementary school. Of his work during the two years at St. Arnaud, all who are in a position to do so speak in terms of the highest praise.

The late head master of the St. Arnaud School, Mr. N. P. Dick, writes:
"He was a young man of fine character, earnest, upright, and faithful in the discharge of his duty, and an able teacher, keen and energetic, maintaining always a high standard of efficiency in his classes. He had an assured future."

Transferred from St. Arnaud to the high school at Essendon, he volunteered, and was accepted for active service, two former attempts having failed. Lance Corporal Holmes was a Bachelor of Arts of the Melbourne University, and, at the time of his enlistment, was studying for a degree in science.

He enlisted on the 16th of July, 1915, and embarked with the 10th Reinforcements to the 23rd Battalion. He disembarked in Egypt, and was transferred to the 59th Battalion. He proceeded to France with the unit on the 18th of June, 1916, was appointed Lance-Corporal on the 6th of July, and was killed on the 19th."

Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.

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