Private
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | 37186 | 10th Battalion, 7th Platoon, 21 Division |
Biography
Charles was born at Crich in 1898, the son of William and Eliza Holmes. He enlisted while working at Lea Mills, joining the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in February 1917. His record states that he died on 7th February 1918 and is buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery. He is also remembered on the Lea Mills Memorial and on the Crich War memorials inside and outside St Mary’s Church.
On the original, badly damaged, Lea Mills Roll of Honour there used to be a small photograph of Charles. This would probably have been taken from the set of three postcards produced showing most of the volunteers. A possible unidentified photograph from that set is as follows:
Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. Died
Ancestry Record
Charles Francis Holmes born Crich, enlisted at Lea Mills. Formerly 5/86739, T.R. Battn. Died.
Newspaper Report
Derbyshire Courier, 16 February 1918
CRICH CASUALTIES
Mr and Mrs William Holmes Folds Yard, Crich, received news on Tuesday that their youngest son, Private Charles Francis Holmes, K O Y L I, had died in hospital in France, the result of pneumonia. Following a telegram which stated that he was in a critical condition a letter was received from the 55th Casualty Clearing Station, BEF, as follows: "Dear Mrs Holmes, – I am so very grieved to have to tell you that your son took a turn for the worst last night, and the poor lad died at 6:45 pm he became unconscious and passed away peacefully in his sleep. I can only repeat for your consolation that nothing was spared for him. He was a good little patient, and it may gratify you to know that the sisters and orderlies are really heartbroken about him. We have had so many serious patients that it seemed all the harder. Everyone did the best for the boy. I hope you will accept our sincerest sympathy. Private Homes will be buried in the British military cemetery nearby and his personal belongings sent to you in due course. – Yours very sincerely D.P.Foster, sister in charge". The letter was dated 8 February. By sad coincidence, a field card came from Private Homes by the same post, dated 6 February, stating that he was going on well. Private HOLMES , who was 19 years of age, had been in the Army just a year. He was formerly employed at Lea Mills in the pressing department. Since being in the army he has been in hospital for about four months, having previously had an attack of pneumonia.
Name | HOLMES CHARLES FRANCIS |
Initials | C F |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Rank | Private |
Regiment/Service | King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
Unit | 10th Bn |
Date of Death | 07/02/1918 |
Service No | 37186 |
Casualty type | Commonwealth War Dead |
Grave/Memorial Reference | V. A. 4 |
Cemetery | TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY |
Lea Mills War Memorial
War Memorial outside St Mary's Crich
North facing panel of St Mary's War Memorial
Wall plaque inside St Mary's Church, Crich
Soldiers' Effects Book
Charles Francis Holmes; KOYLI; Private 37186; died 55 CC Station
France; War Gratuity £3; paid out to:
1.5.18 father William £9 12s 9d
14.11.19 father William £3 0s0d
1901: Crich Market Place
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
William | Holmes | Head | 39 | Labourer limestone quarry | Crich |
Eliza | Holmes | wife | 48 | France British subject | |
Thomas | Taylor | son | 21 | Gritstone cutter | Crich |
James | Taylor | son | 15 | Labourer | Crich |
Benjamin | Taylor | son | 14 | Labourer | Crich |
William H | Holmes | son | 10 | School | Crich |
Florrie | Holmes | daughter | 9 | School | Crich |
Sam Laurence | Holmes | son | 6 | School | Crich |
Charles F | Holmes | son | 2 | Crich | |
Tamar A | Taylor | daughter | 18 | Domestic servant | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 20 page 32
1911: Near Church, Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
William | Holmes | Head | 49 | Road foreman RDC | Crich |
Eliza | Holmes | wife | 53 | France | |
Thomas | Taylor | son | 31 | Quarry man stone getter | Crich |
Harry | Holmes | son | 20 | Plate layer colliery | Crich |
Florence | Holmes | daughter | 19 | Crich | |
Samuel | Holmes | son | 16 | Gardening | Crich |
Charles | Holmes | son | 12 | Schoolboy | Crich |
Benjamin | Taylor | son (wdwr) | 24 | Collier hewer | Crich |
RG14PN20985 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED14 SN95