Robert was the son of Alfred and Kate Holmes and was the second youngest of seven children. Robert was born in Sussex in 1886 but by 1891 the family were living at 7, Spring Bank, Manningham. Alfred moved north to join his father in the family brewing business and they subsequently moved to Ashfield in Bingley. Robert was educated at Oatlands School in Harrogate and Haileybury College from 1900-1904.

Robert’s father Alfred died in 1902 and his Uncle Fred in 1903; the 1911 Census shows Robert working in the family business as a brewer and maltster.

On the outbreak of war Robert had enlisted in the school OTC battalion before earning a commission in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and being sent to the front on 15 October 1915. He was slightly wounded by a bomb in the early Spring of 1916 but was soon able to re-join his battalion.

Although nominally serving with the 5th Bn. KRRC, Robert would be attached to the 2nd Bn. then serving on the former Loos battlefield (from September-October 1915). 

The battalion would take part in one of a number of British diversionary attacks north of the Somme in order to tie up German reserves and stop them being moved to the area of the main offensive.

Here the war diary of the 2nd Battalion KRRC for their attack on the night of 30th June/1st July 1916:

"30th June: - Quiet morning and afternoon. The Battalion, less parties selected for the attack, moved into ‘B’ Coy’s billets at 7.30pm – At 7pm, the remainder moved off via MIDDLE ALLEY and CARFAX ROAD to the starting places allotted to them, and by 8.30pm were all ready. The ZERO Time was fixed at 9.10pm.

At 9pm, the bridges were put up. The enemy either saw them or the troops assembling in the trenches. At 9.3pm, they opened a heavy fire with trench mortars and artillery causing many casualties as the trenches were crowded. Our artillery opened as arranged at 9.10pm.

At 9.15pm, three mines were sprung and at 9.16pm, the storming column went over the parapet. The two parties on the right failed to penetrate the heavy wire in front of the hostile trenches: and consequently what remained of the turned S up the south of the northern of the DOUBLE CRASSIER in an attempt to help the Royal Sussex Regt. who had a Company engaged thereon. Their efforts to carry the German Sap on the N. CRASSIER together with the Royal Sussex did not succeed in consequence of wire and machine gun fire.

The Central column attacked and entered the enemy’s trench, but found its right ‘in the air’ and much exposed to hostile bombing attacks. Nor did it succeed in joining up with the Left column. Under these circumstances, Major W.D. Barker, the senior officer on the spot, ordered a withdrawal. This was carried out in good order.

The Left column rushed the trench appointed for them, and remained in action till 3am – when they also withdrew."

"1st July: - The losses were heavy: 11 officers – 3 killed, 2 died of wounds and 6 wounded. 28 Other Ranks killed, 8 died of wounds, 24 missing and 167 wounded. The Battalion accounted for some 100 of the enemy, it is thought. After the operation, the whole Battalion returned to its former billets at MAROC and then moved to PETIT SAINS next day for a rest in billets that same evening."

It is known that Lt Robert Holmes died with the 2nd Bn. KRRC in this action. He would be subsequently buried in the Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery in Northern France. Given the history of this cemetery and following a study of the known casualties, it is considered that he would likely have been one of the two officers recorded as ‘died of wounds’.

His grave stone includes the following inscription; 'SUCH A DEATH AS THESE HAVE WON GIVES THE TRUE MEASURE OF THEIR WORTH'

His death notice was published in the Bradford Daily Telegraph on the 5th July 1916.

His contribution is honoured in the Haileybury College Memorial and Chapel Roll of Honour.

And on the Bradford Rowing Club Roll of Honour which is situated at their clubhouse by the River Aire at Shipley, Bradford. ‘Let those that come after see to it that their names be not forgotten’

Second Lieutenant Robert Brian Holmes is also remembered on a family headstone at Undercliffe Cemetery.

IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF 2ND LIEUTENANT ROBERT BRIAN HOLMES 2ND BATT. KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. YOUNGEST SON OF ALFRED & KATE HOLMES WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN FRANCE JULY 1ST 1916 AGED 29 YEARS

“AT REST NOEUX-LES-MINES”

Following his death probate was granted to his older brother Joseph who received the sum of £20,701 from Robert’s estate, a sizable sum, equivalent to £2 million today (2024).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This story was put together by the members of the ‘Bus to Bradford’ – WW1 Group and the Undercliffe Cemetery volunteers of Bradford, in memory of our city’s WW1 soldiers… Use of text from Undercliffe Cemetery ‘Soldiers Stories’ (With permission).