Lives of the First World War

FW Holes at home in Bermondsey with his young child, around the time he received his Victoria Cross (Daily Mirror 21/1/1915)

Lance Corporal Frederick William Holmes VC. Service number: 9376. Unit: 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Death: 22 October 1969. | L Cpl Holmes, one of the earliest recipients of the VC in the First World War, was awarded the Victoria Cross, aged 24, on 26 August 1914 during the Battle of Le Cateau for the following action: Whilst under heavy fire, L Cpl Holmes carried a badly wounded soldier, Norman Woodcock, out of the trenches on his back for two miles until he reached some stretcher bearers. Holmes then returned to his battalion to find many of them killed or wounded and a gun in danger of being captured by German forces. He placed a wounded man on one of the horses of a artillery gun team and attempted to take him to safety. Unfortunately the man fell off and was lost in the dark, but Holmes reached safety with the gun. L Cpl Holmes was born in Bermondsey, London. He joined the Army in 1907 and served until being placed on the reserve list in 1914. On outbreak of war two weeks later, he was called up for active service and almost immediately became the first British soldier to be awarded the VC during the First World War. Holmes subsequently rejoined his battalion, but was seriously wounded in the ankle in October 1914 and nearly lost his foot. After recovering from his injuries, Holmes joined 1st Battalion, Green Howards in October 1915 with the rank of Sergeant. He was posted to India and later received a commission with 9th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Holmes was posted Mesopotamia in July 1917 but was sent home in early 1918, following a serious accident in which he fractured his skull. Holmes finally left the Army in 1921 and emigrated to Port Augusta, Australia where he died in 1969.