Richard Holmes
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Richard was born in 1886 in Sheffield and was the son of Herbert a grinder at a cycle works and Jane Holmes of 5 St Peter's Street Radford Nottingham. In the 1901 census - the family are living at 39 Court Street Hyson Green Nottingham and are shown as - Herbert Holmes, head, 36; Jane, wife, 34; Richard, son, 15, cycle hand; David, son, 14; By the 1911 census the family are living at 269 Denman Street, Radford , however Richard is by now in the Army and is shown as being with the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters in India and shown as - Richard Holmes, private, 25, single, born Titchwell Sheffield Yorkshire; Army Form W 5080 showing deceased's family has listed - Herbert, father; Jane, mother; and David, 32, brother. Soldiers effects records show - Holmes, Richard, 1st Bn N&D, private, 8912 - 23/3/1915 - £3-8s-0d to Father Herbert 28/6/1929 - £5-0s-0d gratuity to father Herbert.
8912 Private Richard Holmes enlisted at Nottingham into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 7 October 1903. He was listed as born Sheffield, 18 years of age, 5 feet 3 inches, blue eyed and brown hair. He was a Cycle Hand. Richard was a Wesleyan. He had a tattoo on his right hand - R.F.A. After completing his training, Richard was posted to 2nd battalion on 7 January 1904. On 3 August 1905 he extended his period of service with the colours to 8 years. On 13 December 1906 Richard was posted to the 1st battalion in India. His medical records show a stay in hospital of 6 days in April 1906 and a medical showing he was fit for service in Singapore and India. November 1906; On 2 November 1911, Richard was transferred to the army reserve on completion of his 8 years with the colours; On the outbreak of war, Richard was mobilized at Derby on 5 August 1914; He joined the 1st battalion which had returned from India and on 4 November 1914 arrived in France with them. Richards war would last just 23 days and he was killed in action on 27 November. The battalion held the line near Neuve Chapelle in rudimentary trenches overlooked by a fortified house occupied by the enemy. During the month 2 officers and 16 other ranks were killed. Richard's grave was lost in later fighting and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Obituary published 13th January 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLMES. – Killed in action, November 27th, 1914, Private Richard Holmes, 8912, 1st Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment, beloved son of Herbert and Jane Holmes, of Denman-street, Radford. Be ye also ready for ye know not the hour when the Son of Man cometh.” In memoriam published 27th November 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLMES. – In loving memory of our dear son, Private R. Holmes, 1st Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action on November 27th, 1914. Gone, but not forgotten. – Father, mother, and family.” In memoriam published 27th November 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLMES. – In loving memory of our dear son, Private Richard Holmes, killed in action November 27th, 1914. – From his sorrowing father, mother, and family.” In memoriam published 27th November 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOLMES. – In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. Richard Holmes, killed in action November 27th, 1914. – From his sorrowing father, mother, and family.” Above notices are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
