Name
George Holmes
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
341062
Royal Engineers
'L' Signal Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KEZELBERG MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot I, Row D, Grave 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE FROM HIS LOVING WIFE AND SON KENNETH
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Hemel Hempstead Memorials
Pre War
George Holmes was born in 1881 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of William George and Letitia Rose Holmes, and baptised on 4 December 1881 at St Paul’s, Hemel Hempstead. His parents had married on 26 December 1876 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 20 Astley Road, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Stone Mason. George was a scholar aged 9 and he had six siblings.
His father died in 1894, aged 37, and was buried on 28 July in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead. On the 1901 Census he was living with his widowed mother, his grandfather, George Euinton and three siblings at 1 Constance Villas, Hemel Hempstead and working as a commercial clerk aged 19.
He married Emily Skinner on 8 June 1908 at St Mary the Virgin, Kensworth, Beds. They had a son James Kenneth who was born on 16 February 1911. By the 1911 Census the family were living at 59 Shakespeare Street, Watford, Herts where he was working as a telegraph construction labourer.
His mother Letitia died in 1920 in the Willesden, Middx, district aged 63, and was buried on 6 April, in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He attested 12 December 1915 in Watford and initially served with the Suffolk Regiment (Reg. No. 39864) later transferring to the Royal Engineers.
He died on 6 November 1918, aged 37, at the 64th Casualty Clearing Station, of broncho-pneumonia contracted whilst on active service and is buried at Kezelburg Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs E Holmes, 59 Shakespeare Street, Watford, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "REST IN PEACE FROM HIS LOVING WIFE AND SON KENNETH". His widow received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £16 12s 2d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her child. There is an article about and a Death announcement for George in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 23 November 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
