HOLMES, Herbert Francis
| Service Number: | 1919 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Burrowa, New South Wales, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Crookwell, Upper Lachlan Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Cowra, New South Wales, Australia, 1 August 1940, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cowra General Cemetery Plot - Anglican |
| Memorials: | Cowra & District Great War Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1919, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1919, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Barambah embarkation_ship_number: A37 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1919, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Barambah, Sydney |
Help us honour Herbert Francis Holmes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His older brother 1720 Pte George Mathew Holmes 45th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Pozieres 5 August 1916. A brother with whom he enlisted the same day, 1994 Pte Mark Holmes 35th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, 12 October 1917.
Herb was given a large welcome home in Crookwell during March 1919, and was presented with an inscribed gold watch and chain. Referring to his Military Medal he said he was proud to have won it, but "there were hundreds of boys each day performing equally as brave deeds, who never received the distinction."
Herbert Francis Holmes passed away in 1940, at only 45 years of age. He was reported to have suffered ill health due to war injuries for much of his post war life. He married in 1921 and was the father of a son who served in WW2.
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