Thomas William Holmes

Thomas William Holmes VC
Born	14 October 1898 Montreal, Canada
Died	4 January 1950 Toronto, Ontario
Buried at	Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service	1915 - 1919
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	147th (Grey) Battalion, CEF and 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles
Battles/wars	First World War
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Harbour pilot

Thomas William Holmes VC (14 October 1898 – 4 January 1950) was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War. Holmes is the youngest Canadian to ever win the Victoria Cross.

Although Holmes was born in Montreal, Quebec, his family was from Owen Sound, Ontario. His father's work had taken them to Montreal; however, they returned to Owen Sound when Tommy was about six years old. During his last year of school, he worked for the butcher J.R. Boyd, and just before enlisting Holmes was working on the farm of Templeton Day at nearby Annan, Ontario.

On 20 December 1915, No. 838301 Tommy Holmes enlisted as a private soldier in the 147th (Grey) Battalion, CEF, at Owen Sound in Grey County. The 147th Battalion was raised by the Grey Regiment, which also later raised the 248th Battalion, CEF. As was common practice at the time, Tommy lied about his age - he was actually 17 years old when he joined-up. He was sworn-in by the 147th Grey Battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel G.H. McFarland. Prior to embarking for England, the battalion trained at Camps Niagara and Borden (today CFB Borden) in Ontario, and at Amherst, Nova Scotia. The Battalion was at Camp Borden from 4 July 1916 until 5 October 1916, when it departed for Halifax. Embarkation was delayed, leading to the 147th encamping at Amherst. Finally, on 20 November 1916, Tommy Holmes arrived with the 147th (Grey) Battalion at Liverpool, England. Like the other 35 CEF battalions that trained at the newly opened Camp Borden in that hot summer of 1916, the 147th (Grey) Battalion was broken-up for reinforcements to units already in the field. The 147th had sailed in RMS Titanic's sister ship RMS Olympic. Consequently, Tommy Holmes was transferred to the 8th Reserve (Holding) Battalion on 1 February 1917, and then to the 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles on 16 February 1917. In April 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, he received a though-and-though bullet wound from a machinegun in his arm and was temporarily invalided to England. While in hospital, he met up with his older brother Roy, who had enlisted earlier in the 58th Battalion, CEF and who had also been wounded, losing an eye.

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