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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: spottydog on Saturday 18 June 11 19:15 BST (UK)
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I wonder if someone can point me in the right direction as how to untangle this puzzle.......
Percy Holmes, son of Sarah and Arthur, was killed in WW1. He came from Lancashire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have a record of a Percy Holmes, Private, Ser.No. 242321, killed 3/5/1917, age unknown, West Yorks Regt. (Prince of Wales Own), Arras Memorial. How can I discover if this is the 'correct' Percy without any further info?
I downloaded medal card for this Percy but nothing helpful here.
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What was your Percy's birthyear?
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The Index for UK Soldiers that died in WW1 gives that Percy's place of birth as Bingley, West Yorkshire so if he was definitely from Lancashire, its not him
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Sorry CaroleW - don't have a birth year verified yet.
Thanks rutht22000 - that saves me a lot of wasted effort.
Back to the drawing board! ???
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Any idea where in Lancs he was from his place of birth or residence that may prove helpful searching the databases?
Ady :)
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Have searched SDGW and theres no obvious Percy Holmes on there with Lancs connections through birth or residence.
the lad above was resident in Wilsden enlisted Halifax and born Bingley
Closest I can get is Peter Holmes from Bolton 16011 LNL Regiment
Ady
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do you have any address for Arthur and Sarah? Presumably there is a sibling. Any details available?
A search on the 1901 and 1891 census for an Arthur Holmes with a wife Sarah doesn't bring up a son Percy. 8 Arthur/Sarah combinations on the 1901 census; 3 on the 1891. The Arthur/Sarah living in Lancashire don't have a son Percy listed; this Arthur appears to originate from Cambridgeshire.
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I too have gone down the census check road and have come to the conclusion that Percy must be the son of Arthur and Leah (not Sarah) which means he would have been born c. 1888 and would have made him about 26 at outbreak of WW1 - which sounds right. He is shown on the 1901 census with parents Arthur & Leah at 1 Mansor (?) Rd, Oldham. Going back to the 1881census Arthur is there with correct parents Joseph & Lucy. So now looking for a Percy Holmes b.c.1888 who died in WW1 and possibly joined a Lancs regiment.
Thanks for all help so far. :D
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Can we approach it from a different angle?
Did Percy marry and are you descended from one of his children? If so - what was his wife's name and when & where did they marry?
If you are not a descendant - where does Percy fit in your FH? You haven't just plucked his name out of thin air so he must be connected in some way - and it's maybe via that information that we can sort the information
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OK - answer to second question first...... I am doing this as part of some research for my cousin's wife's brother (you DID ask!) and have a very extensive family tree already drawn out from which to proceed. I was asked to see if I could pin down the 'right' Percy who died in WW1. To answer the first question - they have not noted that he was married, but they show he had 2 sisters - Lucy and Sally, born Oldham & /or Lancashire.
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Which brings you back to Percy, son of Arthur and Leah, right up to 1911, still in Oldham, although I can only go by the index for 1911.
The sister appears to be Sarah though, not Sally.
Phil
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It's amazing what a cocktail of SDGW and Geoff's Search Engine will turn up :D
Not Percy, but his brother, Ernest Holmes, Pte 32261, 1st Battalion East Lancs Regiment, died of wounds, 27/4/18.
Son of Arthur and Leah Holmes, 69 Hollin Hall St, Oldham.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=144847
Phil
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but they show he had 2 sisters - Lucy and Sally, born Oldham & /or Lancashire
Sarah = Sally
1901 - 1 Hanson St Oldham - all b Oldham
Arthur Holmes 40 cotton machine fitter
Leah 38
Alfred 17
Thomas 15
Percy 13
Sarah 8
Ernest 6
Lucy 1
RG13 Piece 3817 Folio 101 Page 26
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Hi
I think that maybe the family history is a little incorrect??
Percy had a Brother Ernest in the post above.
Ernest 8/32261 Pte 1st East Lancs Regiment Died Of Wounds 27/4/18
he is confirmed on CWGC as son of Arthur and Leah Holmes of 69 Hollin Hall street Oldham
Hope this solves it?
Ady :)
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Phil
Just seen your post.....must learn to type faster!!
I went from 01 CENSUS and checked for E Holmes and there he was with parents confirmed :)
Ady
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It took you nearly an hour to type that? I thought I was slow ;D
Phil
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Got sidetracked sorting out my daughters Ipod!
Anyway think this is successful outcome for Spottydog :)
Ady
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According to his MIC he was previously an ASC Driver with 20th Field Ambulance, in at the start (17/8/14). 14 Star and Clasp.
Transferred to the East Lancs 25/5/17
Phil
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Just caught up with this string of emails - what a team! Thanks so much!
Will see how this all fits together and hopefully be able to complete the picture.
Leona
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Don't forget to let us know how you get on.
Phil
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If you go to www.lancashirebmd.org.uk there are 2 Percy Holmes marriages in Oldham after 1911
1914 to Annie Brooks at St James
1915 to Amelia Cowley/Elliott - registry office or RC marriage
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Well as you're talking about my great Uncle Percy, what would you like to know about the Holmes family :)
(How spooky is it finding things like this online?) :)
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Well Hello! I have been researching the Holmes family for my cousin's wife's brother (!) and his great grandfather was Joseph Holmes b. abt 1827 and married to Lucy Bishop. He was a tailor and wool draper in Oldham. They had 9 children and his grandfather was the last child Frank b.1875 in Oldham and married to Agnes Palmer. Are we on the right family? If so, I am sure he would love to be in touch with you and I will pass on the details so that you can connect!
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Well my great great grandad is Arthur, Franks Brother. :)
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WOW! Well Frank Holmes and Agnes (Palmer) had a daughter Annie, who married Jack Fitton in Oldham in 1933. They had 2 children and one of those is married to my cousin and the other other is the one I am researching for!
I will send him this link and see if he can reply directly to you. ;D
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Thought you might like to see this.
(http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq273/mandatum/family.jpg)
my email is (*)
Cheers
Ian
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Thanks! Have passed to Nick!
Leona
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Whoops....sorry mods.
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The information above is correct, the WW1 fatality was Ernest not Percy. Mandatum, Arthur was also my mother Beryl's great grandfather though the daughter Sarah. I would love to make contact with either of the descendants in this post.
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Thanks spottydog. I cant seem to reply to your PM? ???
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Another possibility for a WW1 death in the family was Sarah Holmes first husband was also killed in action. His name was James Taylor.
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Welcome to Rootschat donlogan. You have now put enough posts on Rootschat to reply to the PM. ;D