Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. A. Holmes, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment, who later died of wounds on the Somme, 3 October 1916

Military Medal, G.V.R. (10-3296 Sjt: W. A. Holmes. 2/Well: R.); 1914-15 Star (10-3296 Sjt. W. A. Holmes. N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (10/3296 Sjt. W. A. Holmes. N.Z.E.F) mounted for display, remnants of lacquer, generally good very fine (4) £800-£1,200

M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘Conspicuous coolness and courage, when, after his officer was wounded, he took command of the wiring parties during the advance to the enemies trenches in the raid of the 16th June, and also covered the withdrawal of the assaulting parties. ’

Walter Anderson Holmes was born in Dunedin in 1894, and attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1915. He served in the Egyptian theatre of war, and with the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment in the French theatre of war from April 1916.

Holmes was awarded his M.M. for gallantry during a trench raid in operations near Armentieres, 16 June 1916. He served with the Battalion on the Somme in July, and was present with them during their last operation there, 1 - 2 October 1916. On the latter dates the Battalion attacked and captured Eaucourt l’Abbaye, as part of the early stages of the Battle of Transloy Ridge. Holmes, who had advanced to Sergeant, was mortally wounded, 1 October 1916. He died of wounds, 3 October 1916, and is buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L’Abbe, France.

Sold with copied research.