HOLMES, Mark Ubhorne
| Service Number: | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Reids Flat, New South Wales, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Crookwell, Upper Lachlan Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 12 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boorowa War Memorial, Crookwell War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1994, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1994, 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, 1994, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Barambah, Sydney | |
| 23 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 35th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Mark Ubhorne 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
Mark Ubhorne Holmes was the son of Charles and Catherine Holmes of Crookwell, New South Wales.
His older brother, 1720 Pte. George Mathew Holmes 45th Battalion had been killed action at Pozieres on 5 August 1916, aged 27. He had been listed as missing for over twelve months.
Another younger brother, 1919 Corporal Herbert Francis Holmes 35th Battalion AIF was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in 1918 and returned to Australia later that year.
Mark left Australia in August 1916 and was taken on strength of the 35th Battalion 21 November 1916.
He had a letter he wrote home during July 1917 printed in the Crookwell Gazette, “The Crookwell boys over here are doing very well, although they have had a very rough time. They were all in the capture of Messines. Private Joe Brumby, my brother Herb and myself were wounded, but the three of us are back in action again."
He said it could hardly be thought possible to live under some of the bombardments. There were nine of them together the other day, and one was killed, six severely wounded, and Holmes and the other chap were buried by the earth thrown up by a big shell. They got out alright, but got a good shaking up. They were being shelled day and night, and were lucky to be alive. Private Holmes said that he had not yet heard anything of his missing brother. One of the sights of the war, he says, was to see the German and British planes in a fight in the air. He and his mates were in the taking of Messines and took heaps of prisoners. He sends his best wishes to all Crookwell friends.
Mark Holmes was reported missing in action, 12 October 1917. A Court of Enquiry, held six months later concluded: ‘Killed in action, Belgium, 12 October 1917.’
In his Red Cross wounded and missing file, he was seen by several men to have been hit, “I had known him some months, but slightly. His first name was Mark, was about 21 and single. We were retiring from Passchendaele when he got a M.G. bullet through the head. Corpl. Angove, A. Coy, IV Pl. like himself, bandaged him up, but told me that he was almost dead even then. We had to leave him behind just as he was breathing his last. The Germans occupied the ground shortly afterwards.” (1935 Pte W.A. Patterson 35th Battalion)
It was particularly distressing for their parents as one son was missing for over twelve months and a second son missing for over six months before they were declared dead. Mark’s few personal belongings were also lost at sea when the transport ship ‘Barunga’ was sunk in 1918.
Click images to start slideshow.