| William
Edgar Holmes was 23 years old, and a Private in the
2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards, during the First World War
when the following deed took place for which he was
awarded the VC.
His citation reads:
On
9 October 1918 at Cattenieres, France, Private Holmes
carried in two men under the most intense fire and
while he was attending to a third case he was severely
wounded. In spite of this he continued to carry in
the casualties, and was shortly afterwards mortally
wounded. By his self-sacrifice this man was the means
of saving the lives of several of his comrades.
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Carnieres
Communal Cemetery Extension, France
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He
was born in Wood Stanway, Gloucestershire on 26 June
1895 and was the son of Mrs. E. E. Holmes of Didbrook,
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.
He
died from his wounds on 9 October 1918 and is buried
in Carnieres Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Carnieres
is a village about 8 kilometres east of Cambrai and
the Cemetery is on the north eastern outskirts of the
village on the west side of the road to Avesnes-les-Aubert.
Carnieres was captured on 10 October 1918, and the Communal
Cemetery Extension was made by the Guards Division a
week later. The extension contains 54 Commonwealth burials
of the First World War of which Private Holmes is one
of 7 Grenadiers buried there. The cemetary also contains
the gravestones of 3 Coldstream Guardsmen, 16 Scots
Guardsmen, 3 Irish Guardsmen and 1 Welsh Guardsman.
There
is a large stone plaque in St George's Church, Didbrook
that bears his name.
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He
that loseth his life for my sake shall save it
Mat. X 39
To the glory of God and in loving memory of
Liet. Alfred Alcock, 1st Glos. Regt. + Lieut.
john C Hutchinson 6th East Surrey Regt.
Pte Harry C Doughty, 2/4 R Berks. + Pte Wilfred
Simpson, R Marine L Inf.
Corpl. Denis F Wright 7th Glos. Regt. + Pte Edgar
F Jones, 2nd. Worc. Regt.
Pte Frank C Wynniatt, 10th Glos Regt + Pte Wilfred
Lanchbury 8th Glos. Regt.
Pte William C Buttell, 10th Linc. Regt + Pte Arthur
Clements 1st Glos. Regt.
Sapr. Charles Simpson 116th Rai Co. R.E. + Pte
Arthur L. Gissing 20th Hussars
Pte John Simpson 7th Glos. Regt. + Pte Edward
J. Innes 2nd Glos. Regt.
Pte Thomas Simpson 10th Glos. Regt + Pte Herbert
Minchin 10th Glos. Regt
Pte Will. Edgar Holmes, Gren. Guards V.C.
Who fell in the Great War
1914-1918 |
|
His
Victoria Cross is displayed at the Grenadier Guards
Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks, London,
England. |
