Samuel Knight Holmes

He was born in 1890 the second of six children of Samuel Knight Holmes and Annie Holmes. Samuel's place of birth is given variously as 'Rawmarsh, Derbyshire' (1891 census) and 'Park Gate, Yorkshire' (1911 census/SDGW) and the birth of a Samuel K Holmes was registered in Apr/May/June 1890 in the registration district of Rotherham; Samuel, Annie and their other children were born in Nottingham. In 1891 Samuel, whose occupation was described as 'Army Reserve' and 'carter', and his wife were living in Kimberley with their two sons, Wallace (2) and Samuel Knight (1). The family has not been traced on the 1901 census, but by 1911 Samuel (49), now a carter for a railway company, and Annie (47) were living at 3 Fairfax Street, New Basford, Nottingham with five of their children; Samuel Knight (21), Vina (18), Emily (15), Arthur Harry (12) and George (6). Their eldest child, Wallace, was married with a young baby and also living in New Basford. At the time of Samuel's death in 1914 his parents were living at 45 Gawthorne Street, New Basford. His younger brother, Arthur Harry, who served as a private in the Leicestershire Regiment, died in a German military hospital of wounds and blood poisoning on 27 August 1918.

In 1911 he was employed as a blacksmith striker for a shoeing smith.

He enlisted in Nottingham.

Private Samuel Knight Holmes who had enlisted at York on 8th June 1908. He served with the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards, arriving in theatre on 13 August 1914.He died of wounds at No. 5 Field Ambulance, Ypres, and is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery (grave ref. A1.15). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 13 November 1914: 'Holmes. From wounds received in action, Private SK Holmes, 2nd Bn (sic) Grenadier Guards, son of S and A Holmes, 45 Gawthorne Street, Basford.' Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 6 September 1919: 'Holmes. Missing May 27, 1918, now reported died in German military hospital from wounds and blood poisoning, August 17th (sic) 1918, Private AH Holmes, 7th Leicestershire Regiment age 20 years, also SK Holmes, his brother, 2nd (sic) Grenadier Guards, killed in action 25 October 1914. Father, mother, sisters, brothers.' One of his sisters was named as his legatee (Soldiers' Effects record).