Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Robert James Carter Holmes
Ancestor's date of birth: 20/10/1871
Ancestor's date of death: 12/08/1946
Cause of Death: Detail not provided
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Farming at Poowong and Arrawata in south Gippsland then contract clearing on farms and roads.
Service Number: 612
Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Arrawata
Unit: 3rd Victorian Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War promotion
Murray Page: 250
Contingent: Third Victorian
Ship: Euryalis, Date of Sailing: 10/03/1900
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: Disembarked at Biera and travelled by rail to Salisbury. Robert was accompanied by 'Zoe' and 'Bootles' two of the three horses he took from Arrawatta. Served in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including skirmish at Koster River (22 July 1900), and in northern Transvaal including battle of Rhenoster Kop (29 November 1900). Injured in action between Waterval and Warmbaths whilst charging up a kopje in an assault on the Boers.
Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia in January 1901 after a stay in hospital in Pretoria with a fractured kneecap. He was recalled to duty in May 1901 to meet the Duke and Duchess of York. Returned to farming in Korrumburra. Moved to Melbourne in early 1930s.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Geoffrey Lloyd Brooks, Euroa VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
