Name
William Albert Holmes
3 Sep 1874
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/04/1920
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
WR/43739
Royal Engineers
'C' Coy, Roads and Quarries Transport Depot
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ELVASTON (ST. BARTHOLOMEW) CHURCHYARD
Near South end of Churchyard.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
AT REST
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
William Albert Holmes was born in 3 Sep 1874 (baptised 4 Oct 1874) to William Holmes, and Emily Elizabeth (nee Wiggs).
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, William, Harry (Henry, born 1887), were living at 16, Perth Street, Tower Hamlets, London. Also recorded were Henry Smee (boarder, born 1854) and Mary S Benham (born 1891).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, William, Henry, Thomas Bertie and Sidney were living at Fulton Villas, West Ham, London.
On the 1901 Census William was living with his widowed mother at Forty Acre Lane, West Ham, London also recorded was a boarder Charles Proudfoot.
William married Nellie Leman 1909 there would be 3 children – William Leman (born 7 Aug 1912), Barbara Nellie (born 20 Sep 1916) and Kenneth John (born 26 Mar 1918).
On the 1911 Census William, nurseryman, and Nellie were living at 227, Nevells Road, Letchworth.
His widow, Nellie Holmes, later lived at 150, Pixmore Way, Letchworth. Herts.
Wartime Service
William was enlisted on 18 Apr 1918 (aged 44 years) in the Royal Engineers as Pioneer WR/43789 on and was posted to C Coy, Roads and Quarries Transport Depot (Bordon, Hampshire). He declared his trade as Works and Road Foreman and was promoted to Acting Corporal. He reverted to Sapper and was posted to Middle East Force leaving Southampton on 25 Jul 1918, arriving Basra on 24 Nov 1918. He embarked for return to UK on 12 Mar 1919 arriving 8 Apr 1919. He placed on Z Reserve on 7 May 1919 and discharged 31 Mar 1920.
His body was found in the River Derwent at Elvaston, Derbyshire on 11 Apr 1920 and his remains were interred at St Bartholomew’s Church, Elvaston. The Service Record has reference to two newspaper reports (Elvaston and Letchworth) but have yet to be found.
Additional Information
Arrears of £4 11s 8d was paid to his widow (ineligible for War Gratuity). She also received probate of £380 14s 4d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
