Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

‘Some Time We’ll Understand’ A Mother’s Deep Grief

Francis Rex Holmes (Rex)

Although Rex was born in 1907 in Neuarpurr, Victoria, most of his early years were spent in the South East of SA where his father, Francis had grown up and eventually became sole proprietor of the Kincraig Garage in Naracoorte. Rex had a younger brother Lindsay and sister Mavis. From the early age of six as a youngster, Rex was a keen exhibitor in the poultry section of the Mount Gambier and Lucindale Shows, regularly taking out prizes for his birds in bantam categories of cock and hens and later, white leghorn cockerels and Black Orpingtons. He was also a talented scholar in both Primary and Secondary schooling, being awarded a prize in grade 7 for his exercise bookwork, then continuing to achieve well as a senior scholar at the Naracoorte District High School. In 1923 he successfully gained his certificate in the Senior Public exams in a variety of subjects including English arithmetic, geography, history (with honors) and bookkeeping. The following year at the 1924 School Speech Night, Rex confidently presented the Sports Report and was also awarded the class prize for his superior marks in 3rd and 4th Year Commerce, his essay on Canada as well as for leadership, influence and popularity and a prize for his Attendance and General Proficiency. By 1925 Rex again won the Boy’s Popularity Prize and The leadership, Influence, and Popularity prizes, topping these with an Institute Scholarship.

The day after Rex’s 24th birthday, his father, Francis died after a long illness. A successful local businessman, Francis was also heavily involved in the community being an inaugural member of the Naracoorte Corporation formed in 1924 as well as being on both the Primary and High School Councils.

Rex became a respected and effective Head teacher at the Tarcoola Public School, where he took a party of cricketers from the local Boy’s Club to tour and play against mid-north towns including, Port Augusta, Hawker, Wilpena Pound, Quorn, Peterborough. Jamestown, and Gladstone, visiting local features including the smelters at Pirie.

In 1932, just 18 months after his father’s death, tragedy again struck Rex’s small family, devastating the local community. Both his siblings, Mavis (18) and Lin (23) and another young man were drowned in a motor boat tragedy on Cockatoo Lake just out of Naracoorte on Lake Roy Station; a popular boating, swimming and fishing place. A fault with the boat’s steering gear caused it to spin out of control, swamped the vessel which sank stern first, throwing all fully clothed young people from the boat. With a lake depth of from eight to fifteen feet, despite being able to swim, all occupants drowned. Rex immediately made the 700-mile trip from Tarcoola to be with his mother for the huge funeral. All three friends were buried together. The plinth on their memorial was a poignant reflection of the grief of mother Bertha and Rex; “Some Time We’ll Understand”.

Rex returned to continue as a teacher at Tarcoola. He played cricket for the local team in a what was termed ‘praiseworthy performances’. He continued to keep in contact with his friends from Naracoorte, including Wilfred James for whom Rex was best man at his wedding. In May 1936, Rex moved to Unley Central school to teach but each holiday returned to Naracoorte to spend time with his mother. He also continued his Education studies successfully at University, while also doing relief teaching at the Glenburnie school in Mount Gambier for a time in 1940. That year, Rex enlisted in July to serve in WWII in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He became SX7861 and immediately travelled to Egypt where he earned what was to become a prestigious title of a being Rat of Tobruk.

Initially Rex contracted mumps in January 1941 but soon after commenced Group II Intelligence Duties in July but, aged just 33, was tragically killed in action in August. John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ recounted that “Private Rex Holmes, who had been evacuated a few days earlier with desert fever, was killed as a result of a bombing attack on the Wadi Auda.” He is now buried in the Tobruk war cemetery. Rex’s death was deeply felt by his home town, where he was the fifth Naracoorte soldier who had paid the supreme sacrifice. Similarly, his Unley School remembered and honoured him. During the combined Arbor day in August 1941, scholars and visitors observed a minute's silence in memory of their former teacher, Rex. A selected group of boys then planted a jacaranda tree in Clifton Street, Malvern in his honor where Rex’s memorial tree was to become one of 33 trees planted in that street. The school also planted a flowering gum tree in the school grounds in his memory. Rex’s headmaster at the time, Mr. Hart and a fellow teacher, Mr Polden, paid tribute to their late colleague at a school assembly.

In a gracious gesture, Rex’s mother at the 1941 November meeting of the Narracoorte Town Council, undertook to pay the cost of the fountain in one of the town squares, as a memorial to her son, who fell in the present war. Later, Mr. DeGaris reported that "the fountain had been completed in tone of the garden squares, and that the cost of the work would be borne by Mrs. Frank Holmes, a former resident of the district, as a memorial to her late son. Rex Holmes who paid the supreme sacrifice at Tobruk, and also the other soldiers who have fallen at Tobruk. The Mayor, added that the late Mr. Frank Holmes was a member of the Town Council, at one time, and he had proved himself an excellent Councillor, and this gesture would also serve as a memorial to him.” 

The local Naracoorte High School Speech Night in December also honoured the memory of Rex with the school paying tribute to the Holmes family which had played a big part in the educational affairs of the town and district.  Staff also recalled that Rex was one of the most popular students who passed through the school. Deepest sympathy was formally extended to Mrs.  Holmes and Rex’s relatives.

Public tributes for Rex continued to be posted in the Adelaide Advertiser:

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 27 August 1941, page 12 HOLMES. —Killed in action on the 5th of August, our sincere friend, Private F. Rex Holmes. —Inserted by Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Barnes and family in loving remembrance. 

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Thursday 28 August 1941, page 10 HOLMES. —On the 5th of August, killed in action abroad. Private F. Rex Holmes. —Ever remembered by his friends. V. and M. Lewis and family. Colonel Light Gardens.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 2 September 1941, page 10 HOLMES. —Private F. Rex Holmes, our gallant friend, killed in action abroad on the 5th of August. Greater love has no man than this. —lnserted by Wilfred (AIF. abroad) and Myrtle James.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 5 August 1942, page 10 HOLMES. —In loving memory of Private F. R. Holmes (Rex), who was killed in action in Tobruk on August 5, 1941. A duty nobly done. —Inserted by his mother, Uncle Fred, Auntie Win and Cousin, Doris Chittleborough. HOLMES, Pte. F. R.—A sincere tribute to the memory of Rex, killed in Tobruk, August 5, 1941. —Inserted by Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Barnes and family.

HOLMES. —In loving memory of Rex, who made the supreme sacrifice at Tobruk on August 5, 1941. His smiling face and happy ways Will linger with us all our days. —Inserted by May and Mr. Allen, Payneham.

HOLMES. —In loving memory of my friend Rex, killed in action at Tobruk, August 5, 1941. Not just today, but every day, In silence I remember that smiling face. —Inserted by (Bertie) A. Gottwald, Greenock. 

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Thursday 5 August 1943, page 8 HOLMES. —In loving memory of my dear son. F. R. Holmes (Rex who was killed In action at Tobruk on 5/8/41. — B. Holmes.

HOLMES. Pte. Francis (Rex)AIF. — In memory of my friend. Rex, killed in action, Tobruk. August 5. 1941. Not just today, but every day. in silence I remember you. —Inserted by (Bertie) A. M. Gottwald Greenock. 

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Saturday 5 August 1944, page 12 HOLMES. Pte. Francis Rex. —Killed in action. Tobruk. Aug 6. 1941. In loving memory of my friend Rex. Thoughts drift back to bygone days, life moves on, but memory stays. —Ever remembered by Bertie A. M Gottwald. Greenock. 

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Monday 6 August 1945, page 10 HOLMES, Pte. Francis Rex. —In loving memory of my pal Rex, killed at Tobruk, August 6, 1941. Things have changed in many ways, but one thing changes never, the memory of those happy days when we were together. Inserted by (Bertie) A. W. Gottwald, Greenock.

Rex was posthumously awarded the 1939/45 Star, the African Star, Burma Star, and Defence Medal War Medal, all of which were posted to his mother Bertha in February of 1952. His name along with others with whom he served, appears on the Memorial Monument in Naracoorte. The heartbreak of his mother, Bertha is unimaginable.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes 2/48th Battalion