Iredale Holmes

Iredale Decourt Holmes was born 4 April 1882 at Estcourt, Summer Hill to George and Susan Holmes [1] He married Estelle Annie Smith, daughter of James Meikle of the Treasury Department, on 5 July 1913 at Lavender Bay, St Leonards [2] in the 1913 Electoral Roll he was listed as a farmer’s overseer, along with Henry William Holmes, farmer, at Cannon Valley, Proserpine, Queensland.

He had previously seen service with the Imperial Bushmen, presumably in the Boer War [3]

He enlisted in 1916, aged 33, at which time his address was 105 Darley Road, Manly. He was sent to France as a driver. However, he was invalided home to Australia after several months’ service, suffering from neurasthenia or shell-shock.

In the 1930 Electoral Roll he was living at Regent Street, Dee Why, on independent means. In the 1949 Electoral Roll he was at 36 Osborne Road, Manly, with Ethel and Helen Blanche Holmes, presumably daughters.

In 1954 all three were listed at 75 Wood Street, Manly.

Mrs Estelle Holmes died on 18 May 1941 at Pittwater Road, Dee Why [4]

Mr Holmes died at Manly on 18 February 1962 [5]

[1] SMH 5 June 1882, p1; NSW BDM 4830/1882.

[2] NSW BDM 11087/1913; SMH 20 August 1913, p12.

[3] WWI War Service record.

[4] SMH 19 May 1941, p8.

[5] SMH 20 February 1962; NSW BDM 3497/1962.