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Lance Corporal John Alexander Huntley Holmes
Description
TitleLance Corporal John Alexander Huntley HolmesAlternative NameHuntleySummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionHuntley was born 24 October 1884 in Christchurch, the second son of George Gordon and Hannah Holmes, of "Knocklynn", Halswell. He was educated at Christ's College. After leaving College he had been sheep farming on a portion of the Holmes Bay Estate, at Pigeon Bay. He was 5ft 10¼in with dark complexion, grey eyes and black/grey hair. He was described as being “of a particularly bright disposition, and was a great favourite with everyone who knew him.”
Huntley enlisted on 17 August 1914 at Addington as a trooper in the South Canterbury Squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Regiment. He embarked with the Main Body on 16 October 1914 for Suez and disembarked 3 December 1914. While in Egypt he promoted to Lance Corporal (unpaid) on 26 December 1914. After a period of training in Egypt he went with the Regiment to Gallipoli on 8 May 1915 aboard the HMT Grantully Castle. However the HMT Kingstonian did not disembark the horses and returned with them to Egypt leaving the troopers to fight as infantry. Huntley was wounded on 21st of August suffering a gun-shot wound to his arm, possibly as one of the troop sent to help the Auckland Mounted Rifles defend Walker’s Ridge against a strong Ottoman attack. He was admitted to hospital ship Assaye on 30th August and then to No.2 Australian Hospital, Ghezireh. He died a month later on 30th September of paratyphoid and pneumonia, supervening on wounds in action at Gallipoli, aged 31. He was buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. In New Zealand Huntley is remembered on the Tai Tapu & Halswell War Memorials.
First NameJohn Alexander HuntleyLast NameHolmesFamilySingleSecond son of George Gordon and Hannah Holmes, of "Knocklynn," HalswellDate of Birth24 October 1884Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death30 September 1915Place of DeathEgyptCause of DeathDied of wounds
Huntley enlisted on 17 August 1914 at Addington as a trooper in the South Canterbury Squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Regiment. He embarked with the Main Body on 16 October 1914 for Suez and disembarked 3 December 1914. While in Egypt he promoted to Lance Corporal (unpaid) on 26 December 1914. After a period of training in Egypt he went with the Regiment to Gallipoli on 8 May 1915 aboard the HMT Grantully Castle. However the HMT Kingstonian did not disembark the horses and returned with them to Egypt leaving the troopers to fight as infantry. Huntley was wounded on 21st of August suffering a gun-shot wound to his arm, possibly as one of the troop sent to help the Auckland Mounted Rifles defend Walker’s Ridge against a strong Ottoman attack. He was admitted to hospital ship Assaye on 30th August and then to No.2 Australian Hospital, Ghezireh. He died a month later on 30th September of paratyphoid and pneumonia, supervening on wounds in action at Gallipoli, aged 31. He was buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. In New Zealand Huntley is remembered on the Tai Tapu & Halswell War Memorials.
First NameJohn Alexander HuntleyLast NameHolmesFamilySingleSecond son of George Gordon and Hannah Holmes, of "Knocklynn," HalswellDate of Birth24 October 1884Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death30 September 1915Place of DeathEgyptCause of DeathDied of wounds
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageTai Tapu War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryCairo War Memorial CemeteryHalswell War Memorial Tai Tapu War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmerRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Mounted RiflesEnlistment Details17 August 1914 at AddingtonService Number7/428 Rank Last HeldLance CorporalEmbarkation16th October 1914Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportTahitiAthenicCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Lance Corporal John Alexander Huntley Holmes. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/399