Henry Wallace Holmes
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- Military History
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Henry Wallace was the son of Walter Henry and Caroline Fanny Lowe (née Holmes). His father Henry Walter was born in Nottingham on 17 May 1879 (A/M/J Radford), the son of Henry Walker Holmes and his wife Elizabeth (née Smith). Henry snr. was a grocer and baker. His mother, Caroline Fanny, was born in Stapleford in 1881 (J/F/M Shardlow), the daughter of Charles Marcus Lowe and Rose Ann (née Wood), and baptised at Nottingham St Ann on 6 January 1889. Caroline's family lived in Nottingham, but her father Charles moved to Newcastle after his second marriage in 1896; he died in Nottingham in July 1902. Henry and Caroline were married on 7 July 1898 at Nottingham St Mary and had three children: Henry Wallace b. Newcastle upon Tyne 1899 (J/F/M Newcastle), Francis Arthur (Arthur) b. Nottingham 7 November 1903 and Ronald George b. Nottingham 24 June 1907. In 1901 Henry and Caroline with their son Wallace (sic) (2) were living with Caroline's grandparents, Robert and Fanny Lowe, at 142 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. Henry was a grocers's assistant and may have been working for Robert Lowe who was a grocer/shopkeeper. Also in the household was Caroline's brother, Francis Robert Lowe, a lace warehouse assistant. By 1911 the family had moved to 12 Kilbourn Street, Alfred Street, Nottingham. Henry's occupation was given as pickle maker on his own account. Also in the home on the night of the census were their sons Henry (12), Francis Arthur (7) and Ronald George (3) and a housemaid. Henry Walter enlisted in the Army Service Corps (300579 Driver) on 12 March 1917 and served in Mesopotamia from 23 June the same year. He was discharged in February 1919. The family was still living at 12 Kilbourn Street when Henry Wallace was killed on 18 October 1918. Caroline died at home less than four weeks later on 15 November of influenza and pneumonia, probably a casualty of the Spanish Flu epidemic. A copy of the death certificate in her husband's service papers records that her son, Arthur (aged about 15) was present at her death. Henry was still serving in Mesopotamia when his son and wife died. Henry and his two surviving sons later lived at 128 Hucknall Road, Carrington. They had probably moved to live with Henry's parents as this had been their address at the time of the 1911 Census. Henry probably married Evelyn Rose Osbourne (b. 4 March 1896) in 1921 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living on High Street which was probably in the Nottingham suburbs; Henry was a food manufacturer on his own account. He may have died in 1953. Of Henry Wallace's brothers: Francis Arthur married Jane Bird (b. 16 November 1906) in 1924 (A/M/J Nottingham). In 1939 they were living on Minver Crescent, Nottingham; Francis was a wholesale cooked food manufacturer and salesman on his own account. He died in 1970 (O/N/D Shardlow). Ronald George died in 1971 (O/N/D Nottingham).
Formerly M/300028 RASC Henry Wallace died on 18 October 1918 of wounds received accidentally. He was buried in Forenville Military Cemetery, France (grave ref. E.6).
Wallace's maternal uncle, Francis Robert Lowe, served with the Royal Horse Artillery (99690 Driver) and was killed, probably accidentally, in France on 22 October 1916, buried Crecy-en-Ponthieu Communal Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour for additional family history.) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father Henry Walter was his legatee. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 28 October 1918: ‘Holmes. Died of wounds accidentally received on October 18th, 1918, Pte Wallace Holmes. Fondly remembered, sadly missed. Florrie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 31 October 1918: ‘Holmes. Died of wounds, accidentally received, Pte. Henry Wallace Holmes, aged 19, eldest dearly loved son of Pte HW and CF Holmes, 12, Kilbourn-street, Nottingham. A noble life sacrificed. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing father (Mesopotamia), mother, brothers Arthur and Ronald’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 31 October 1918: ‘Holmes. Accidentally killed October 18th, Pte. Henry Wallace Holmes, aged 19, dearly loved grandson of Mr and Mrs Holmes and family, 128 Hucknall-rd. Carrington.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 15 & 16 November 1918: Holmes. On November 15th, at 12 Kilbourn-street, of pneumonia, Caroline Fanny, the beloved wife of Henry Walter Holmes (Mesopotamia).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 18 October 1919.: Holmes. In loving memory of Pte Henry Wallace Holmes, killed in France, October 18th, 1919. Sweet is the memory of one we hold so dear. Father and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 15 November 1919: ‘Holmes. In ever loving memory of Carrie, the dearly loved wife of Harry Holmes, and our dearest mother, died November 15th, 1918. Always in our thoughts. From husband and sons.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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