THE GALLIPOLI MILITARY MEDAL AWARDED TO PRIVATE A. HOLMES, 1ST BATTALION ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS (LATE 3RD (SPECIAL RESERVE, TYRONE MILITIA) BATTALION INNISKILLING FUSILIERS) WHO LOST A LEG AT GALLIPOLI, AND WHO WAS INVALIDED FROM GALLIPOLI BELIEVING THAT HE HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS, HIS MILITARY MEDAL POSSIBLY BEING A DOWNGRADED AWARD. Military Medal, George V (officially impressed: 10249 PTE. A. HOLMES. 1/R INNIS: FUS:). Few small rim bruises, otherwise Good Very Fine.
Gallipoli Military Medals are rare. The Military Medal was not instituted until 25th March 1916, by which stage the Gallipoli campaign was long over. The acts of gallantry for which Military Medals were awarded had to be witnessed by an officer and recommended by that officer. By March 1916 many of the officers who had taken part in the Gallipoli campaign had been killed or invalided and as a result were not in a position to recommend the award. Those Military Medals that were recommended, long after the campaign tend to be for significant acts of gallantry remembered by officers once the Military Medal had been instituted. Additionally, the Military Medal could not be awarded posthumously to any man who was killed in action performing an act of gallantry, thus excluding many potential recipients.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, 28 pages copied papers from Holmes's Soldiers Papers files (8 pages 3rd Battalion and 20 pages 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers), Medal Index card, Military Medal Index card (this stamped "France" in error), Silver War Badge roll, extract London Gazette re. award of Military Medal and copied extracts re the services of the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during WW1.
Albert Holmes (1892-1975) was born in the parish of Glyndermott, Londonderry, and enlisted into the 3rd, Special Reserve (Tyrone Militia), Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Londonderry on 3/8/1910. At the time of enlistment he was 18 years and 2 months old, gave his trade as labourer, and stated that he had never previously seen service with the armed forces. Holmes was discharged from the 3rd Battalion on 2/4/1912, after 1 year and 244 days service, never having risen above the rank of Private. He enlisted into the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers the following day, 3/4/1912, giving his then age as 19 years and 9 months old, trade as general labourer and confirming that he had previously seen service with the 3rd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers. Holmes saw service during WW1 in the Balkans (Gallipoli), entering that theatre of operations on 17/3/1915 (the 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers were serving in India when Holmes enlisted, sailed for England in early December 1914, arriving at Avonmouth on 10/1/1915, and was stationed at Rugby, Warwickshire, prior to sailing for Gallipoli in March 1915, landing at Gallipoli as a unit on 25/4/1915. In Gallipoli the battalion saw service with 87th Brigade, 29th Division, the "Incomparables".)
Holmes was wounded in action on 27/5/1915, gunshot wound to left leg (Battle of Gurkha Bluff, May 1915). He was subsequently evacuated to Alexandria where his left leg was amputated, prior to being evacuated to Moreton Paddox Military Hospital, Warwickshire, and eventually being discharged from hospital in England on 14/6/1916. Private Holmes was discharged from the army "physically unfit" 14/6/1916 and awarded a pension initially of 25 shillings a week for two months and subsequently 10 shillings and sixpence a week for life.
Private Holmes's WW1 papers include a letter from Moreton Paddox Military Hospital to the officer commanding the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Depot in Co. Tyrone, stating that Holmes was then resident in the hospital and seeking confirmation that Holmes had been awarded the Victoria Cross, no doubt in order to investigate a claim being made by Holmes in that regard, Holmes perhaps having been led to believe, prior to being evacuated, that he would be recommended for the award of the Victoria Cross.
Papers also include a later letter dated 22/11/1916 confirming that Holmes had been awarded the Military Medal and asking whether he could be informed when the medal would be presented, because he was "awaiting an operation", along with a post-discharge hand written letter from Holmes (who signs himself "L. Holmes") requesting the issue of a silver war badge.
Soldiers Papers also include a 2 page handwritten letter circa March 1915 subsequent to Holmes being posted for service in Gallipoli, from a Miss M.E. Bull, with an address at 52 School Lane, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, stating that she was pregnant, "going to have a little one", that Private Holmes was the father, that she was unable to work and requesting that the authorities help her to get in contact with Holmes, whose whereabouts were unknown to her, but who had promised to marry her before being posted overseas.
Biographical details confirm that, when the liaison took place Holmes was already married, and that a daughter, Jeannie Elizabeth Holmes had been born in March 1913 in Londonderry.
Private Holmes's Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette of 11/11/1916. This edition of the London Gazette is noted by Howard Williamson as containing most of the Military Medals awards for Gallipoli, as well as awards for the Battle of the Somme, including many for the first day. Since Holmes did not see service in France, his Military Medal was clearly awarded for service at Gallipoli, Holmes never having seen service in France and seeing service exclusively during WW1 in the Gallipoli theatre of operations.
Private Holmes was also entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio and a Silver War Badge.
