| Regimental number | 955 |
| Place of birth | New Lenton, Nottingham, England |
| School | Church of England, New Lenton, England |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 21 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Warder |
| Address | Hospital for Insane, Claremont, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Height | 5' 9.75" |
| Weight | 162 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, John Holmes, Orlando Street, Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Perth, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT Katuna on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 26 |
| Place of burial | Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row B, Grave No 10), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 120 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Eva HOLMES, 'Otranto', Solomon Street, Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia. Native of Lenton, Nottingham, England |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 18 March 1916 (influenza); transferred to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 20 March 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty, 2 April 1916. Found guilty, Ferry Post, of refusing to obey a lawful command given by his superior officer. When told to take a certain place in a parade would not do so & was abusive: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Killed in action, 19 July 1916. German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr. Sold. Holmes, A. Erk.Mrk. 955, 32. Bn. am 19.7.16 in Gegen Fromelles gefallen.' Name appeared on German Death List, 4 November 1916. Identity disc forwarded to father, 8 November 1917. Father enquired after personal effects (ring, wrist watch etc), 6 December 1916; AIF Headquarters, London, replied to Defence Department, 16 January 1918: 'The Commanding Officer, 32nd Battalion, ... reports as follows: "I have made enquiries and find that Pte. Holmes was killed in the Enemy Trenches and as far as is known no property of his has been recovered."' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, HOLMES Arnold
Red Cross file 1360312 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
