Main CPGW Record
Surname: HOLMES
Forename(s): Philip Gordon
Place of Birth: Grassington, Yorkshire
Service No: 524
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Imperial Camel Corps
Battalion / Unit: No.1 Coy 1st (Anzac) Battalion Imperial Camel Corps Brigade
Division: ---
Age: 30
Date of Death: 1917-01-09
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: F. 298.
CWGC Cemetery: KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: GRASSINGTON, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: LINTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Philip Gordon Holmes (born 1 May 1887) was the son of Fieldhouse and Sarah Holmes, née Bell. Fieldhouse was born at Addingham and Sarah at New House, Deepdale, Langstrothdale, Yorkshire.
1891 Grassington, Yorkshire Census: Market Place - Phillip G. Holmes, aged 3 years, born Grassington, son of Fieldhouse and Sarah Holmes.
1901 Grassington, Yorkshire Census: Market Place - Phillip G. Holmes, aged 13 years, born Grassington, son of Fieldhouse and Sarah Holmes.
Whilst in Egypt, Philip transferred from the 32nd Bn Australian Infantry, to the 1st (Anzac) Bn Imperial Camel Corps.
A short biography of Philip is included in: ‘Swaledale & Wharfedale Remembered – Aspects of Dales’ life through peace and war’ by Keith Taylor (2006).
See also: ‘Silva Gars’ by John Crowther (1930).
Australian service records: www.naa.gov.au › The collection › Popular research topics › Defence › Service records
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HOLMES, Philip Gordon, Australian Camel Corps, formerly of Grassington, killed in action, Egypt, Jan. 9, 1917.
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Private Philip Gordon HOLMES
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Imperial Camel Corps
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
St Michael & All Angels Churchyard, Linton-in-Craven
Family gravestone
St Michael & All Angels Churchyard, Linton-in-Craven
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription: 'Also Pte. P. G. Holmes,/Killed in Action,/Jan. 9th 1917, in his 30th/Year at Rafa, Palestine.'
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
02 February 1917
HOLMES – January 9th, Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes (late of Grassington), Australian Camel Corp., whilst serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces.
09 February 1917
HOLMES – January 9th, 1917, in the battle of Rafa, against the Turks, Lance-Corporal Phillip Fieldhouse Holmes, of the Australian Imperial Forces, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldhouse Holmes, Grassington.
09 February 1917
GRASSINGTON HERO’S DEATH – LANCE-CORPORAL PHILLIP FIELDHOUSE HOLMES
Official notice has been received of the death in action of Phillip, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldhouse Holmes, of Grassington. He was very well known in this district before emigrating to Australia about seven years ago. He held a good position out there before joining the Australian Imperial Forces. He spent most of the time – some 12 months – with the Camel Corps in the Sudan. His regiment moved from there at the beginning of December, and he had his first action against the Turks, close to El Arish, on December 23rd, out of which he came without a scratch. On the 9th of January he met his death during the battle of Rafa. The following is taken from a letter sent by his captain to his parents:
“Philip was with me throughout his service and was my personal friend. He was Lance Corporal when he got killed, and was a great example to those under him. Phillip was a great man, and thought ever so much of by his comrades – a good, straight-forward, honest out and out Yorkshireman of the best type, and you should be proud of your sturdy lad who did his ‘bit’ for dear old England and home.”
04 January 1918
HOLMES - In loving memory of Private Philip Gordon Holmes, Imperial Camel Corps, who was killed in action at Rafa (Palestine), January 9th, 1917.
Only a British soldier
Only a mother’s pride;
He nobly answered duty’s call,
He gave his life for one and all.
From his Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Liverpool House, Grassington.
22 March 1918
HOLMES – March 14th, at Liverpool House, Grassington, Fieldhouse Holmes, in his 90th year.
[Father of Private Philip Gordon Holmes, killed in action, 9 January 1917.]
22 March 1918
GRASSINGTON
Mr. Fieldhouse Holmes, whose death is announced in our obituary column, as having taken place on March 14th, aged 89 years, was a member of an old Addingham family, and came to Grassington in the days when the mines were in full swing. One of his forebears was a celebrated huntsman for the pack of hounds kept by the Cunliffe-Listers. The deceased, who was the oldest tradesman in the district, was highly respected in the neighbourhood. He came to Grassington sixty-nine years ago at the age of twenty-one, working for the late Mr. Cockshott. He set up on his own account as a grocer and draper over fifty years ago. He had been an invalid for the last five years. He leaves a widow and several up-grown children.
[Father of Private Philip Gordon Holmes, killed in action, 9 January 1917.]
10 January 1919
HOLMES – In loving memory of Lance-Corporal Phillip Gordon Holmes, killed in action at Rafa, Palestine, January 9th, 1917.
From his Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Liverpool House, Grassington.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
02 February 1917
HOLMES – Killed in action, Jan, 9th, Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes (late of Grassington), Australian Camel Corps, whilst serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
02 February 1917
GRASSINGTON SOLDIER KILLED
Mr. and Mrs. F. Holmes, of Grassington, have received news that their son Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes, of the Australian Camel Corps had been killed in action on Jan. 9th, whilst serving in Egypt. Pte. Holmes was a stonemason by trade, and went to Australia about six years ago. He joined the army in Australia and went with his regiment to Egypt a year ago.
09 February 1917
GRASSINGTON – THE LATE PTE. PHILIP HOLMES
As briefly reported last week, official notice has been received of the death in action of Philip, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldhouse Holmes, of Grassington. He was very well known in this district before emigrating to Australia about seven years ago. He held a good position out there before joining the Australian Imperial Forces. He spent most of the time (some 12 months) with the Camel Corps in the Soudan. His regiment moved from there at the beginning of December, and he had his first action against the Turks close to El Arish on Dec. 23rd, out of which he came without a scratch. On the 9th of January he met his death during the battle of Rafa.
The following is taken from a letter sent by his captain to his parents:– “Philip was with me throughout his service and was my personal friend. He was lance-corporal when he got killed and was a great example to those under him. Philip was a great man, and thought ever so much of by his comrades – a good straightforward, honest, out-and-out Yorkshireman of the best type, and you should be proud of your sturdy lad who did his ‘bit’ for dear old England and home.”
04 January 1918
In loving memory of Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes, Imperial Camel Corps, who was killed in action at Rafa (Palestine), Jan. 9th, 1917.
Only a British soldier,
Only a mother’s pride;
Hs nobly answered duty’s call,
And gave his life for one and all.
– From his Father, Mother, Brother, and Sisters. Liverpool House, Grassington.
15 March 1918
HOLMES – March 14th, at Liverpool House, Grassington, Fieldhouse Holmes, in his 90th year. Interment at Linton Church on Monday at 2 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.
[Father of Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes.]
22 March 1918
GRASSINGTON
OBITUARY – The death took place on Tuesday last of Mr. Fieldhouse Holmes, of Liverpool House, Grassington. The deceased gentleman, who was the oldest tradesman, in the district, was highly respected in the neighbourhood. He came to Grassington sixty-nine years ago at the age of twenty-one, working for the late Mr. Cockshott. He set up on his own account as grocer and draper over fifty years ago. He had been an invalid for the last five years. He leaves a widow and several grown-up children.
[Father of Pte. Philip Gordon Holmes.]
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