Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Holmes, a foreman Great Northern railway platelayer, born 1858 in Freeby, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Holmes (nee Gamble, married in the 3rd quarter of 1882 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1856 in Cold Newton, Leicestershire. Edward, a schoolboy at Lowesby Church of England school, was born on the 16th September 1896 in Cold Newton, his siblings were, William, a schoolboy, born 1890, Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1894, Fred, a schoolboy, born 1897, Thomas, born 1898 and Daniel, born on the 27th November 1898, all his siblings were born in Cold Newton, in March 1901 the family home was at High Field, Cold Newton. In April 1911 Edward was absent from the family home at Cold Newton, residing there was his father, a foreman Great Northern railway platelayer, his mother and siblings, Fred, an agricultural labourer, Daniel a schoolboy at Lowesby Church of England school and a news boy and Frank, born 1902 in Cold Newton, also residing with the family was Edward’s widowed paternal grandmother, Harriett Holmes, born 1829 in Whissendine, Rutland. Edward also had older siblings, Mary Jane, born 1883, Sarah Annie, born 1884 and John Henry, born 1886, all were born in Cold Newton. His younger brother Daniel also fell.
Edward attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 8th January 1907 in Nottingham. He gave his place of birth as Cold Newton, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as farm labourer. He stated that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 115 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was red and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 8th January 1907 in Nottingham. His record of service shows he was serving with the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) and was stationed in Fermoy, Ireland on the 4/1/09. A letter, dated 11th April 1925 inside Edward’s service record from his sister A. Hillburn of Cold Newton. Nr. Billesdon, Leicestershire reads; Sir, I would be glad if you will forward the certificate found on the body of my late brother Sgt. E. Holmes to me at the above address as my father is now dead. Yours Faithfully A. Hillburn. Edward’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 11 Mar-15 – NEUVE CHAPELLE. 10:00am. “C” Company advanced North East through the orchard on the left of our line and occupied some broken down houses. Lieutenant WEIGALL killed in this advance. Weather fine but dull. Battalion shelled throughout the day by the enemy. “D” Company charge enemy’s breastworks but suffering heavy loss from machine gun fire is forced to abandon the enterprise. Captain STACKHOUSE and 2nd Lieutenant COXON killed, 2nd Lieutenant BURTON i/c Grenadiers and 2nd Lieutenant WATERS wounded. Captain HODGSON wounded early morning. Captain WEBB at midday. 2nd Lieutenant WEBSTER in afternoon and Major MORTIMORE at 4:30pm. Command now devolves on Major MORLEY. 12:00 midnight. Draft of 25 men join the Battalion.
On Saturday April 10th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LEICESTERSHIRE CASUALTIES. An official intimation has been received by his parents, who reside at Cold Newton, near Billesdon, that Sergeant Edward Holmes, 1st Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action on March 11th. Sergt. Holmes, who was 24 years of age, had served nine years in the Army – six years in India – and went to the front with the Indian Expeditionary Force.