FAMILY LIFE

Born 1894 in Murwillumbah, James Leslie Holmes was named for his father James Henry Holmes. James junior, the sixth of seven children, was known as Les. His parents came from Kendal, Westmoreland where they had married in 1883 and had two daughters before emigrating to Australia in about 1887. The family settled in Murwillumbah and a further three daughters and two sons were born. The family kept close connections with the Cumbrian town of Kendal, naming their home in Murwillumbah ‘Kendal.’ James Snr was a chemist who died in December 1903 when Les was 9 years old. Les’ mother, Elizabeth Ann (born Gott) - with her youngest child just three years of age - appears to have taken over the business, trading as J. H. Holmes & Co. Les completed his four-year apprenticeship with local coach builder A. E. Latter and then worked for Newlyn’s Coach factory as a wheelwright. James Snr is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district and both parents are buried in Murwillumbah Old Cemetery

APPLICATION

Les enlisted on 29^th September, 1915, travelling to Holdsworthy to complete the application. He was 21 years 7 months old, single, and listed his mother as his next of kin. He was 5ft 9 ½ inches tall (1.77m), and weighed 127 lbs (57kg) with a fair complexion, light blue eyes & fair hair. He was Presbyterian. The Examining Medical Officer stated that James “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, James Leslie Holmes, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

He was originally recruited as a private in the 2^nd Infantry Battalion, 13^th reinforcements but was transferred to the 54^th Infantry Battalion once overseas in March 1916.

LIVERPOOL TRAINING CAMP

His training began soon after enlistment. Liverpool Military Camp was the main centre in New South Wales to provide basic military training. Conditions at the camp were generally poor throughout the war. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together.

Firstly, a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas

The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months.

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

HOME LEAVE

He had his final leave in Murwillumbah in December of that year. His sisters and mother became involved in fundraising to assist the Red Cross and to provide comforts to soldiers overseas.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

He embarked with the 2^nd Battalion from Sydney on the HMAT Aeneas on 29th December 1915. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

TRANSFER TO 54^TH BATTALION

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP FEBRUARY 1916

On 16^th February 1916 he was transferred to the 54^th Battalion and allotted to their training camp at Zeitoun.

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in a training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more. Training would normally last 3 months.

Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause

PREPARATION FOR THE WESTERN FRONT

By May 1916, the battalion had completed much of its desert training. Orders were received to deploy the division to France to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.

HOSPITALISATION MAY 1916

On 26^TH May 1916 James was admitted to the Field Ambulance, no details and rejoined his unit on the next day

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE JUNE 1916

In mid-June 1916, the 54th Battalion embarked from Alexandria, Egypt, and sailed for Marseilles, France. Upon arrival, they began moving northward by train and on foot to the Armentières sector, a quieter part of the front used to acclimate new units to trench warfare.

THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES JULY 1916

This battle was intended as a diversionary attack to prevent German forces from reinforcing their lines during the major Allied Somme offensive further south. The 5th Australian Division, including the 54th Battalion (14th Brigade, 5th Division), was ordered to attack strong German positions at the "Sugar Loaf salient."

The 54th went "over the top" at 5:43 PM on 19 July. They were part of the second and third waves of the assault, moving behind the initial attack by the 53rd Battalion and others. The unit advanced into heavy machine-gun and artillery fire. Despite early success in entering parts of the German front line, they were unable to hold the gains. Poor planning, lack of coordination, and strong German defences meant the battalion suffered devastating casualties.

KILLED IN ACTION

One of the casualties of this battles was Les, then 22 years old. His body was not recovered but his name was on the German Death list submitted to the Royal Prussian War Office (Medical Section) in Berlin in August 1916. This confirmed that he had been killed on 19 July at Fromelles.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

The family held a memorial service for their son and brother on 20 August 1916. In 1917, his identity disc was returned by the Germans and it was later forwarded to his mother as next of kin.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Les was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal His name is inscribed on the Honour Roll at Murwillumbah’s St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. He is also honoured on the Murwillumbah War Memorial, unveiled on ANZAC Day 1924 by the mothers, sisters, and wives of the deceased soldiers. He is buried at V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial

Fromelles, Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, Panel Reference:10. No known grave and his name is located at panel 159 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

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