Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Dinah Elizabeth Holmes, born 1877 in Rothley, Leicestershire. John Thomas was born on the 18th November 1893 in Rothley. John’s mother married John Thomas Barnsdale in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, in March 1901 John’s mother was residing at 100, Harrington Street, Leicester, together with his step father, John, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1877 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire and his half blood siblings, John Edward Barnsdale, born 1900 and Isabella Barnsdale, born 1901, both half blood siblings were born in Leicester, John was residing at North Street, Rothley, this being the family home of his maternal Grandfather John Holmes, a shoe trade finisher, born Cossington, Leicestershire and his step Grandmother, Charlotte Holmes, born 1844, in East Stratton, Hampshire, also residing in the family home was his maternal Uncle, John C. Holmes, a shoe trade finisher, born 1883 in Rothley. In the 1st quarter of 1905 in the Leicester district, John’s mother died aged 28. In April 1911 John was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing at North Street, Rothley, together with his maternal Grandfather, a builder’s labourer and his step Grandmother. John married Elsie Charlton in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district on the 27th September 1914, Elsie was born in 1893 in Enderby, Leicestershire, they had a son, Winston Wilfred who was born on the 13th February 1915 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. John was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
NOTE: (The family information collated from census returns, birth, marriage and death records, although appearing to relate to this casualty, cannot be fully and conclusively corroborated with presently available information, and therefore may not relate to this casualty and/or his family.)
The War Diary records: 15 Jun-17 - TRENCHES. Attack of the 58th Division commenced at 2.50am. The enemy put down a heavy barrage on GUARDIAN TRENCH for ¾ hour. At 10.00am the enemy commenced to shell GUARDIAN TRENCH with heavy shells. A high velocity naval gun was fired with great accuracy on GUARDIAN TRENCH and the Brigade dump at U.13.c.1.4. and the QUARRY. The Battalion had approximately 40 casualties during the morning and many men were buried. As the working strength of the Battalion was now about 280 other ranks, the men who had been digging until 2.30am were ordered to help with the carrying of material from the Brigade dump to forward dumps. All available men from 5.00am onwards, carrying and all dumps were complete by 9.30pm. The dump and all communication trenches were shelled continuously causing casualties to the carrying parties which had to pass through this shelling on each journey. Just after the carrying parties returned to GUARDIAN TRENCH at 10.30pm, GUARDIAN TRENCH was heavily shelled until 11.15pm. 2nd Lt. E. A. COLLIS wounded.
On Friday August 18th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – MOUNTSORREL CASUALTIES. The parents of Lance-Corporal J. T. Holmes, Leicestershire Regiment, residing in Rothley-road, Mountsorrel, have been notified that their son is lying in hospital in France through a wound in the face, sustained in the recent advance, Lance-Corporal Holmes is in the same hospital as Private William Henry Hallam, D.C.M., already reported wounded. Private H. Jayes of the Leicesters, wounded, is home on leave at Mountsorrel.