Holmes, Leon

Full Name: Leon Albert Holmes

Leon Holms was born in Borrowash on 27th March 1893. His mother was “Rose Emma Holmes, late Nicholson, formerly Cuender“. His father was John Holmes of Borrowash, who is listed as a Railway Labourer. The birth certificate doesn’t show the address in Borrowash where Leon was born.

Leon appears in his first Census for Borrowash in 1901, aged 8. The Census sheet reveals a large family living in Walkers Cottage in Shacklecross, a hamlet on the outskirts of Borrowash.

Alongside John and Rosa in the four-room cottage, were seven children. The eldest was 18-year-old Elise Nicholson (step daughter), presumably from Rosa’s first marriage. She was followed by six younger children, five boys and one girl. Leon was the third of this cohort, aged eight.

Interestingly, the head of the house, John, was born in Higham, Suffolk, whilst Rose (Nicholson) was a British citizen, born in France, to British parents. The couple had married in 1889, in Chester.

Rose had married John Nicholson in Chester in February 1882, and married John Holmes, also in Chester in1889. No record has been found for the death of John Richardson.

On 24th August 1912, Leon boarded the passenger ship RMS Teutonic sailing to Quebec, Canada, arriving six days later. On the passenger list, his occupation is listed as Collier. He appears to have taken up residence in the mining town of Copper Cliff, in Sudbury, Ontario.

On 29th March 1913, seven months after he arrived, Leon married MARIE CUENDET in Copper Cliff.

It should be noted that Marie shares the same surname as Leon’s mother’s birth name – CUENDET. This implies that she was a cousin of Leon’s, although this requires further research to confirm.

Marie seems to have arrived in Quebec from Liverpool aboard the Teutonic on 8th March 1913, less than three weeks before the wedding. The ship’s manifest is extremely hard to read, but includes the annotation “To Be Married”! Marie was 25 years old, while Leon was 21.

Less than a year later, World War One erupted, and, from 1917, Canadians were subject to conscription. However, Leon enlisted s a volunteer on 16th June 1916.

Two interesting things appear on this form. First, he states his place of birth as Chester. As shown above, he was born in Borrowash. However, his mother was born in Chester, so this may have affected his decision to provide the incorrect information! Second, he gave his date of birth wrong! He wrote 28th March 1893, whereas it was actually the 27th!

Leon’s regiment was the 227th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was allocated teh Serial Number 1003600. After training, the unit arrived in England in April 1917, when Leon was transferred to the 102nd Battalion, arriving in France some time later.

Leon died on 27th September 1918, during the latter weeks of World War One. His casualty report gives an unusually detailed report of his death from a sniper’s bullet.

He has no known grave, but his name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial. Over 11,000 fallen Canadians having no known place of burial in France, are honoured on this Memorial.

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After the end of the war, Leon’s medals were issued to his wife. In addition, a Canadian Memorial Cross was issued to his mother, Rose. They were despatched in October 1920. Rose was, by then living at Kimberley Road, Borrowash

Their address in 1921 was 2 Belle Vue Terrace, Station Road, Borrowash. John and Rose Emma lived with one of their sons, Henry Harold, then aged 29 years.