Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Louis Gordon Holmes was born on the 7th July 1892, the son of Dr Louis Saenger Holmes and Lucy Mary Newton. The family lived at Hopland House, Charles Street, Launceston, Tasmania. Louis’ elder brother Robert passed away aged one day and Louis is sometimes described as the only son of Dr and Mrs LS Holmes. Louis had four sisters, Alice (who died aged one month), Jessie, Florence and Edna.

Louis’ father was born at Smythes Creek, outside Ballarat, Victoria and was a Doctor in Launceston (Tasmania), St Kilda (Victoria) and in Adelaide (South Australia).

Schooling

Louis commenced his schooling a Launceston Church Grammar School in 1900 an in December that year he was awarded a Form 1 prize having come first in History and third in Latin. Louis then moved to Scotch College, Launceston where he passed Junior Public Examinations in English, History, Geography and Arithmetic in December 1906 and further Junior Public Examinations in December 1907. Louis was awarded the Senior Division prize for Mathematics at Scotch College in December 1908.

Dr and Mrs Holmes and family were given a farewell from Launceston in April 1908 and Dr LS Holmes took up practice in St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria. However Louis remained in Tasmania until at least November 1909.

In 1909 Louis passed four subjects (English, History, Geography and Arithmetic) in the Senior Public Examinations held by the University of Tasmania.

It is clear that Louis was a good athlete and he competed in the annual sports at Scotch College in December 1908 and November 1909. In 1909 he won the handicap hurdles (120 yards) and was second in the 100 yards flat race.

It is possible that Louis rowed for Scotch College in the winning Crew Schools’ Championship at the rowing championships on the Derwent in April 1909, however the newspaper reports at the time only state “G Holmes (stroke)” and their appears to have been both a LG Holmes and a G Holmes at Scotch in 1909.

Louis played football for Scotch College in a match against High School in July 1909 and was best on ground, kicking five goals.

It is possible that Louis attended Queen’s College, St Kilda in 1910 as a LG Holmes was Dux of the School in December 1910 and LG Holmes won the 220 yards race at the College Sports. LG Holmes also passed the University of Melbourne Junior Public Examinations in December 1910.

In 1910, Louis played one senior game of football for the St Kilda Football club.

Louis attended Wesley College, Melbourne in 1911. He was in Seat 6 for the College Eight in the Head of the River contest in May 1911. He weighed 11 stone 1 pound. Louis also played football for Wesley College in 1911.

In December 1911, Louis’ father, Dr LS Holmes accepted an appointment to the friendly societies in Adelaide with a minimum salary of £750 per annum, with the right to private practice. The appointment was for five years.

University

Louis enrolled at the University of Adelaide as a non-graduating student, studying for a Diploma in Commerce. Although the student card below only shows details of Louis studying Business practice in 1913, he played sport for the University of Adelaide from 1912-1914.

University Sport

Boat

Louis rowed for the Adelaide University Boat Club from 1912 – 1913. He was a member of the 1912 and 1913 Intervarsity Eight crews. At the time of the 1912 Intervarsity in Sydney he weighed 11 stone 2 pounds. Louis was awarded a Blue for Boat in 1913.

In March 1913 Louis was selected to represent South Australia in an interstate eight oar crew (seat 2), however it was reported later in March that Louis had dropped out of the crew.

By March 1913 when Louis rowed for University in the Stirling Eights at the Autumn Regatta he was in Seat 7 and weighed 12 stone (this may have been an error as in May 1913 he was said to weigh 11 stone).

Football

Louis played A Grade football for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1914 and was a member of the 1914 Intervarsity side who played against Melbourne University on Adelaide University Oval in August 1914. Adelaide University defeated Melbourne University for the first time in the 1914 match. He was awarded a Blue for Football in 1914, making him a Double Blue.

Other Pre War Activities

Apart from his University and sport related activities Louis’ name appeared in the newspaper in relation to a car accident in January 1913 and in relation to his service in the Cadets and later in the Citizens Forces.

“On the night of January 7 (1913) Mr. L. G. Holmes was driving his father's motor car down the Greenhill Road when it got out of hand, crashed through the fence, and finished near the bottom of Waterfall Gully, a distance of about a quarter of a mile. Mr Holmes was thrown out at the top of the hill, but was not hurt.”

An article relating to the crash described Louis as a Chauffeur and another said he was associated with ‘Eyes & Crowle’s establishment. Eyes & Crowle were importers of motor cars, motor cycles, accessories, &c. at 75-79 Pirie Street, Adelaide, specialising in Buick cars.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Great War he commenced studying for a military career. He received his first commission as a 2nd Lieutenant (provisionally) in the 79th (Torrens) Infantry on 16 February 1913.

By August 1913 he had passed the Infantry School examinations and was recommended for the Map Reading and Field Sketching School. He received a good pass for the Map Reading and Field Sketching School in late August 1913. In early November he attended Musketry School at the Port Adelaide rifle range. Louis was confirmed in his appointment as a Second Lieutenant in November 1913.

By June 1914 Louis had passed all the requirements to be promoted to Lieutenant and in late June 1914 he competed in the Officer’s Rifle Competition. He was promoted to rank of Lieutenant in the 79th (Torrens) Infantry on 16 July 1914 and held this commission at the time of joining the AIF.

World War I

Louis applied for a Commission with the Australian Expeditionary Forces on the 19th August 1914. He was 22 years and one month old, 5’8” tall and weighed 12 stone 7 lbs. He had served for 6.5 years in the Cadets and for served for 1.5 years in the Citizen Forces. He was initially a member of the 10th Battalion.

Louis departed from Australia on the 20th October 1914 on board Transport A11 Ascanius on 20 October 1914 and arrived at the Mena Camp Egypt before Christmas 1914.

He was promoted to lieutenant on 1st February 1915 and was attached to the 3rd Brigade. He was made permanent Orderly Officer to Colonel Sinclair MacLagan and had a lot to do with Major Brand, the Brigade Major of the 3rd Brigade.
On the 2nd March 1915 Louis left Egypt via Alexandrina onboard the HT “Ionian” bound for Gallipoli. The 3rd Brigade, consisting of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions, was the covering force (first to land) at Gallipoli. In this position Louis would have been at the forefront of the happenings of the Landing.

Louis was made Captain on 26th April 1915, the day after the Landing.

A telegram dated the 23rd June 1915 advised Louis’ parents that Louis had been wounded but not seriously and a newspaper article was published two days later giving biographical details relating to Louis’ life. Tragically by the time the telegram was sent Louis had died of the wounds he had suffered.

Death

On 13th June 1915 Louis was heading back to his dugout after a swim in the Cove when the guns from the Olive Grove opened up and he was wounded by ‘Beachy Bill’.

‘Beachy Bill’ was the collective nickname given to a battery of Turkish guns located in a position known as the "Olive Grove". The guns were constantly seeking out targets on the beach at Anzac Cove.

Louis was evacuated onboard the Hospital Ship 'Gascon' but his gunshot wound to the stomach proved fatal and he died on 23rd June 1915. He buried at sea by Chaplain Lee Warner, 3 miles off Gaba Tepe on the 24th June 1915.

As Louis was buried at sea he was later commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 12), Gallipoli, Turkey. The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli.

Louis is also commemorated at the Australian War Memorial and the North Road Cemetery, Adelaide (Path 34 South, Plot 5078).

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25709

Extract from the Adelaide University Football Club and Adelaide University Cricket Club document honouring "The Fallen" Anzac Day 2015.

Louis played Intervarsity Football in 1914 was captain. He rowed for the University Rowing Team. He was a Double Blue for football (1914) and boat (1913). He also played for AUFC in 1914. He was studying for a Diploma in Commerce.

Louis enlisted on 18th August 1914 and joined the 10th Battalion. On 1st February 1915 he was attached to the 3rd Brigade. He was made permanent Orderly Officer to Colonel Sinclair-MacLagan and worked closely with Major Brand, the Brigade Major of the 3rd Brigade. The 3rd Brigade was the covering force (first to land) at Gallipoli. In this position he would have been at the forefront of the happenings of the Landing. He was made Captain on 26th April 1915, the day after the Landing. On 13th June 1915 he was heading back to his dugout after a swim in the Cove when the guns from the Olive Grove opened up and he was wounded by ‘Beachy Bill’. This proved fatal and he died on 23rd June 1915.