Main CPGW Record
Surname: HOLMES
Forename(s): Wilfred
Place of Birth: Addingham, Yorkshire
Service No: 16/713
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 16th (Service) Battalion. (1st Bradford)
Division: 31st Division
Age: 28
Date of Death: 1916-07-01
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: ADDINGHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Wilfred Holmes was the son of Frankland Smith and Sarah Holmes, née Lancaster. Smith was born at Keighley and Sarah at Addingham, Yorkshire.
1891 Addingham, Yorkshire Census: Barnes Buildings - Wilfred Holmes, aged 3 years, born Addingham, son of Smith and Sarah Holmes.
1901 Addingham, Yorkshire Census: Barnes Buildings - Wilfred Holmes, aged 13 years, born Addingham, son of Smith and Sarah Holmes.
1911 Addingham, Yorkshire Census: 21, Southfield Terrace - Wilfred Holmes, aged 23 years, born Addingham, son of Smith Holmes, widower.
Wilfred was married to Margaret Hall Aird Mills in 1912.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Wilfred Holmes, 16/713, W. York. R. Theatre of War first served in: (3) Egypt). date of entry therein: 22.12.15. Pres. Dead.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Wilfred Holmes, 16/713, 16th W. Yks. Presumed Dead 1.7.16.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Wilfred Holmes, 16/713, 16th Bn W. Yorks. Date and Place of Death: On or since 1.7.16. death presumed. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Margaret H.A. £1 8s. 11d. Self and child. War Gratuity: Widow - Margaret H.A. £8 0s. 0d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Wilfred. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Margaret Hall Aird, born 20.11.83. Address: 4, Railway View, Addingham, Yorkshire. Children: Betty, born 24.7.12.
The 1921 Census shows that Margaret (born Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland) and her daughter Betty Margaret were living at 'Redholt', Hainworth Wood Road, Keighley, Yorkshire. Margaret was a servant employed by Henry Smith Clough. The 1939 Register shows that Margaret and her daughter Betty M. (later Wall) were living at 108, Highfield Lane, Keighley. Margaret died in 1973.
The informal title of the 16th (Service) Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st Bradford) was the 1st Bradford Pals.
Data Source: Local War Memorial
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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 31st Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
09 June 1916
ADDINGHAM – SOLDIERS’ LETTERS
Mr. Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgment of parcels sent out. Wilfred Holmes writes from France:– “Thanks to the Addingham people for thinking of me. We are having lovely weather out here and it makes a lot of difference. It is bad enough being in the trenches when it is fine. I spent all my Easter above the knees in mud and water – quite a change from Egypt. I called to see Jack England on my way to the trenches and back. He has not been in yet, but he had a few shells burst near where he works the other day, and he and Wilkinson were very lucky to escape. We have a fairly easy time when not in the trenches; we have a band concert every night, and it just keeps us alive, but we cannot help feeling a bit fed up sometimes. I wish it would come to an end before many more lives are lost.”
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
09 June 1916
ADDINGHAM
Mr. Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgment of parcels sent out.
Wilfred Holmes writes from France:– “Thanks to the Addingham people for thinking of me. We are having lovely weather out here and it makes a lot of difference. It is bad enough being in the trenches when it is fine. I spent all my Easter above the knees in mud and water, quite a change from Egypt. I called to see Jack England on my way to the trenches and back. He has not been in yet, but he had a few shells burst near where he works the other day, and he and Wilkinson were very lucky to escape. We have a fairly easy time when not in the trenches. We have a band concert every night, and it just keeps us alive, but we cannot help feeling a bit fed up sometimes. I wish it would come to an end before many more lives are lost.”
28 July 1916
ADDINGHAM SOLDIERS’ LETERS
Mr. Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgment of parcels:–
Corpl. Horace Hustwick, brother of Percy Hustwick, writes:– “Thanks for parcel. Glad to hear you are all well at Addingham except for those unlucky chaps who have been wounded, etc. Addingham is only a small village, but it has done a good share of this war. All I can wish them is the best of luck in the future. No one seems sure about Wilf Holmes (reported missing), and I sincerely hope it is not true for the sake of his wife and family. If I can find out anything at all about him I will let you know right away. There have been big things in France, and we are in the thick of it, and I can assure you it was just like ____ let loose. Troops have never been known to advance under such an artillery fire and machine gun fire before, and those who have got through all right are very lucky indeed. I am sure I have only God to thank for it. It wouldn’t do to mention all the sights, but they were awful. But we have come through with high honours, and the General was so pleased with us that he sent each soldier a nice message, and he has written to Bradford about us, and we have also had congratulations from the King. They have taken us back for a while now to recuperate and get reinforced. I have not heard of our Percy and George Strickland yet, but I hope they are both well. I saw Ellis Kettlewell today, and he said, ‘I see you have been one of the lucky ones, Horace’, and I said ‘Yes, very lucky, and I have thanked God many times for it’. I don’t know how I have got through. I expected going up any minute, but never mind, we must look on the bright side of things and keep smiling, you know, for the sake of old England.”
25 August 1916
ADDINGHAM SOLDIERS’ LETTERS
Mr. Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgement of parcels:–
Sergt. Horace Hustwick writes:– “Thanks for letter expressing the sympathy of yourself and the Addingham people regarding the death of my brother Percy. We all thought the world of him, and I am pleased you all thought so well of him, too. He was a brave lad, and he died a noble death. Convey my thanks to all the Addingham people. There is no doubt you all did your best for him. If it was God’s will we cannot help it, and we shall have to bear it as best we can. There is no doubt it has been a hard blow to us, and myself especially, being left amongst it all, but with God’s help I shall bear it through and continue to do my best for my King and Country, and I pray every day that I may do so and be spared to come back to you all for the sake of my wife and family. Give my best wishes to all the wounded, and my sympathy to Mrs. Wilfred Holmes. It is a bad job for her; it does look as though he has been killed. I am pleased to inform you that I have been promoted to sergeant.”
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