New Zealand Tunnellers

Unit

Main Body (Section No.3)

Rank

Lieutenant

Serial

4/1224

About

Born in New Zealand

11 September 1886

Parent

Father

R. W. Holmes

Work

Occupation

Civil & Mechanical Engineer

Army Experience

World War I (1914-1918)

New Zealand Tunnellers

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British War Medal

Victory Medal

Distinguished Service Order

For gallantry and devotion to duty during the construction of the bridge over the gap between Hermies and Havrincourt. This bridge was commenced on the evening of the 27th September 1918 under shell fire, which demanded great personal discipline to ensure that the preparations went through without a hitch. By his example he made this possible, and all through the construction of the bridge, which was successfully completed. Showed absolute disregard for personal safety.

Mentioned in Dispatches

For distinguished and gallant services, and devotion to duty during the period 16th September 1918 to 15th March 1919.

Death

Died at the age of 69

7 January 1956

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira: Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau.

New Zealand Archives Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5541 16/0056087, Military Personnel File.

Ibid., AABK 18805 W5937 149/0360468, Military Personnel File.

London Gazette, 11 July 1919, p. 8836.

Ibid., 4 October 1919, p. 12234.

Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Government Printer, Wellington, 1916, p. 4.

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “John Dudley Holmes (1886-1956)“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/391