VAD George William Holmes
Orderly Duties at Hospital and Transporting Wounded
Early life:
George William Holmes was one of four children born to Sydney, a wool sorter and Martha Ann Holmes nee Uttley, both of Oxenhope One of his three siblings sadly died in infancy. He was born on 16th September 1882 in Lees, Keighley.
In 1891 the family lived on Well Street in Lees. Unusually for the time, as a married lady Martha Ann was working as a worsted weaver. George was eight years old and his younger sister Mary Hannah was five.
The Holmes family shown on the 1891 census
By 1901 the family had moved to 1 Hebden Road, Haworth. Sydney was still working as a wool sorter, Martha Ann was no longer working. George was working as a worsted manufacturer's clerk and Mary as a worsted spinner. Another daughter, Ada, was six years old.
The 1901 census
In 1911 the family were living at Heather View, Haworth Brow. I believe that this was directly opposite their house on Hebden Road, having been built in 1903. George was still living with them, working as a book keeper for a worsted manufacturer. Mary was a piece mender and Ada a spinner.
The 1911 census. The head of the household would fill this in for the first time, so this is likely to be Sydney's own handwriting
George married Kate Glew in the second quarter of 1911 in Goole and they settled in Keighley. They had a son, Herbert on 31st March 1913.
War service:
George worked as a VAD from March 1915 until May 1919, giving 1,348 hours as an orderly at Morton Banks War Hospital and Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital and transporting the wounded.
Electoral registers show George and Kate living at 3 Heather View for several years after, though by the time of the 1939 Register they were living close by at 3 Belle Isle. George's occupation was 'Secretary and cashier to large worsted factories'. I note that their son Herbert, who was by now married and living in Oxenhope, was 'General production manager of two large worsted factories' as well as an air raid warden so had followed in his father's footsteps in more than one way.
The 1939 Register
George died on 25th April 1948, his address by then was Ebor House in Haworth.
Information sources:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
https://maps.nls.uk/view/125640076
