Biography

Family background

Ronald Joseph Holmes (b. 3 Feb 1912) and Charles Rodney Holmes (b. 1 Dec 1913) were both born in Linton, sons of Joseph Henry Holmes and his wife, Annie Eliza Holmes (nee King). Joseph Henry was a farmer and in 1921 was living at North Gate Farm, Linton. Ronald and Joseph had a younger sister, Vera Mary Holmes. At the time of the 1921 census and in some of the earlier records we have found for the family they seem not to have or to record middle names, Ronald Joseph being recorded as Ronald, Charles Rodney as Rodney and Vera Mary simply as Vera, but later records use middle names more.

Joseph and Annie brought up their children on farms in Linton and in the 1921 census they were all registered at North Gate Farm Linton along with Annie's widowed father, Charles King. By 1935, when Ronald and Rodney would have been 22 and 23 years old, they also appear on the electoral rolls with the family at College Farm, Linton.

In 1939, at the National Registration, Annie (by this time a widow), Ronald and Rodney were all recorded and registered at College House, Linton. Annie was listed as doing unpaid domestic work, Ronald Joseph was listed as a coal merchant, and Charles Rodney as a market gardener - both sons noted as doing heavy work. Charles was given the National Registration number of KSVK83-3, a fact that helps us later in finding his service record.

When war was declared, both sons were eligible for service, and both signed up to serve in the military.

Service record

Charles Rodney Holmes seems to have initially joined the Royal Artillery, and his name is recorded in the Royal Artillery Attestation record book as serving with the service number 1086245. We can be certain that this is the correct record as it also contains his National Registration number KSVK83-3. The record reveals that on the 14th October 1940, Charles was posted to the Coastal Defence and Anti-aircraft section of the Royal Artillery, but at present we do not know exactly where he served. The attestation book also reveals that on the 17th November 1943, he was posted out of the Royal Artillery to the Welch Regiment.

Details of Charles' exact service are not yet available, but the recently opened World War 2 medal record cards gives us further insight into Charles' service. In 1949, Charles claimed the World War 2 medals he was entitled to. Applicants had to give details of their last service position, and Charles gave his as being in the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. As yet we do not know when he joined that Battalion and Regiment. However we know that Charles was awarded medals for his war service including The Italy Star, and the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment fought extensively in Italy from 1944 to 1945.

After the war

After the war Charles Rodney Holmes returned to the Wetherby area and from 1945 until 1950 he was registered on the electoral roll for Collingham living at 2, Church Street, Collingham. We have not found records for him after that date. We believe he died in 1990.

Biography last updated 26 January 2025 14:52:38.