World War I Australian Army Major General. In 1872, at the age of 10 he joined the 1st Infantry Regiment of the New South Wales Military Forces as a bugler and served in every enlisted rank. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1886, promoted 1st Lieutenant in 1890, Captain in 1894 and Major in 1900. After serving in the Boar War, he commanded the 1st Australian Infantry (1902-1911) and was promoted Colonel in command the 6th Infantry Brigade in 1912. With the advent of World War I, he was in a special expeditionary force as administrator of New Guinea, when he took command as Brigadier General of the 5th Brigade at the Western Front. In January 1917, he was given command of the 4th Division as Major General and led his division at the Battle of Bullecourt, France, in April 1917. After the Battle of Messines, Belgium, he was mortally wounded by a German shell burst while surveying the ground won. Holmes was the most senior Australian officer killed in action on the Western Front.
World War I Australian Army Major General. In 1872, at the age of 10 he joined the 1st Infantry Regiment of the New South Wales Military Forces as a bugler and served in every enlisted rank. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1886, promoted 1st Lieutenant in 1890, Captain in 1894 and Major in 1900. After serving in the Boar War, he commanded the 1st Australian Infantry (1902-1911) and was promoted Colonel in command the 6th Infantry Brigade in 1912. With the advent of World War I, he was in a special expeditionary force as administrator of New Guinea, when he took command as Brigadier General of the 5th Brigade at the Western Front. In January 1917, he was given command of the 4th Division as Major General and led his division at the Battle of Bullecourt, France, in April 1917. After the Battle of Messines, Belgium, he was mortally wounded by a German shell burst while surveying the ground won. Holmes was the most senior Australian officer killed in action on the Western Front.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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