George Henry HOMES

Year of Birth:  1896

Place of Birth:  Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Date of Enlistment:  24 June 1916

Date and Place of Embarkation:  27 October 1916, Brisbane, Queensland

Ship:  HMAT Marathon A74

Rank:  Private

Unit(s):  52nd Australian Infantry Battalion

Regimental Number:  2899A

Died:  18 October 1917

George Henry Holmes was born on the 19 January 1896 in Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, Wales to Josiah Holmes and Mary Jones. There were 9 children in his family, seven were born in Wales and two in Queensland.

William 1894, Evan 1897, George Henry 1896, David Dan (Daniel) 1898, Josiah 1900, Mary Elizabeth 1908, Thomas Llewellyn 1909, Queenie Emily born 1922 Atherton and Robert Stanley born Cairns 1912.

In 1901 the Holmes family were residing at Llanfihangel Cardiganshire, Wales and the surname was recorded as Homes.

The family decided to immigrate to Australia and they arrived in October 1910. George Henry’s brothers William, Evan and David Daniel enlisted in the Australian Army. William, after his enlistment, was rejected on medical grounds, Evan was killed in action 13 October 1915 and David Daniel returned home.

On his enlistment in Cairns George Henry was 20 years 4 month, occupation a carter and his next of kin his father Josiah Holmes, Bungalow, Cairns. His height was 5 feet 5 inches, weighed 146 pounds with fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was Church of England.

George Henry Holmes was killed in action in Belgium 18 October 1917 and buried in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, Passchendaele, Flanders Belgium.

HMAT Marathon leaving wharf 27 October 1916 - photo courtesy Australian War memorial
Letter from Mother
NAA B2455
Northern Herald (Cairns) 9 May 1918 p21

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