VAD James Holmes
Hospital, convoy and air raids
James Holmes was born in 1887 to Frederick and Ann Holmes nee Gillson. They had married in 1875, their marriage registered in Keighley, and James appears to have been the oldest of their children.
At the time of the 1881 census Frederick was working as a mechanic. The family lived at High Binns, Oxenhope. Ann is recorded as being born in Oxenhope, however her birth was registered in Bradford and previous census records show her family as living in Tong until they all moved to Oxenhope when she was a child. James's sister, Rose Ellen, was one month old at this time.
The Holmes family on the 1881 census
By 1891 the family had moved to Tansy End in Oxenhope. Frederick was now working as a spindle and fly maker, and James was a bobbin pegger. Although only ten years old, Rose was working as a worsted spinner. They had been joined by younger siblings Albert (7), Emily Jane (4) and Allen (1).
The Holmes family on the 1891 census
The family had moved again by 1901, and Frederick was now widowed, with Ann having died in the first quarter of that year. He was still working as a spindle and fly maker, but James was a warehouseman. Albert was working as a mechanic in a worsted mill and Emily as a worsted spinner.
The 1901 census
James got married in the second quarter of 1904 to Ada Bancroft, and by 1911 they were living at 2 Barn Street, still in Oxenhope. He was working at a cloth weaving mill, where Ada was also working as a piece mender.
James worked at Morton Banks War Hospital from May 1914 until May 1919, undertaking 1,020 hours of hospital duties as well as convoys and air raid work.
I have not been able to find out much information about James thereafter. He is shown with Ada on the electoral registers at 4 Barn Street in Oxenhope until 1926. After that, only Ada's name appears at this address. I have found a death for a James Holmes, registered in Keighley in the fourth quarter of 1928. Ada is recorded as a widow at this address on the 1939 Register. I have not found a record of them having had any children.
Sources:
1881 England Census
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, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
