Name

Thomas William Holmes

Born

1898-10-27

Birth Place

Montreal, QC

Occupation

Chicken picker/ Toronto harbour pilot

Religion

Salvation Army

Died

1950-01-15

Death Place

Toronto, ON

Other Residence

Owen Sound, ON

Awards

Victoria Cross

Cemetery

Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound

Service Record 1

Regimental Number

838301

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

147th Battalion

Enlisted

Owen Sound, ON

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1915-12-20

Service Record 2

Regimental Number

838301

Highest Rank

Sergeant

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

8th Reserve Battalion

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1917-01-01

Service Record 3

Regimental Number

838301

Highest Rank

Sergeant

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1917-02-07

Wounded Date

1917-04-14

Wounds

Bullet wound left forearm

Wounded Where

France

Service Record 4

Regimental Number

838301

Highest Rank

Sergeant

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

2nd Central Ontario Regiment Depot

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1917-04-15

Service Record 5

Regimental Number

838301

Highest Rank

Sergeant

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

8th Reserve Battalion

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1917-05-30

Service Record 6

Regimental Number

838301

Highest Rank

Sergeant

Conflict

1914-1918

Battalion

4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion

Enlistment /Transfer Date

1917-09-23

Discharge Date

1919-04-11

Discharge Cause

Demobilization

Service Record 7

Conflict

1939-1945

Notes

Record of Holmes in 4th Canadian Mounted Rifle war diaries on January 13th, 1918: "In the English papers of yesterday, which arrived to us this morning it is announced that 838301 Pte. Thomas William Holmes of this Battalion has been awarded the Victoria Cross for valour at PASSCHENDAELE, on Oct. 26th, 1917. This is the first V. C. in the history of the Battalion."

Sources & Links

- Bruce County Genealogical Society Surname Collection;
- The Gazette: Offical Public Record
- "Community Enlistments, Second Great War" photo album (BCM&CC, A2016.089.002)
- Library & Archives Canada
- Ancestry.com. Canada, Selected Service Records of War Dead, 1939 - 1945
- Find a Grave

News Clippings

T.W. Holmes [Thomas William Holmes?]

Canadian Echo Wiarton, January 29, 1919

Paisley Advocate, May 1, 1918

London Gazette, January 11, 1918