L Cpl Holmes, one of the earliest recipients of the VC in the First World War, was awarded the Victoria Cross, aged 24, on 26 August 1914 during the Battle of Le Cateau for the following action: Whilst under heavy fire, L Cpl Holmes carried a badly wounded soldier, Norman Woodcock, out of the trenches on his back for two miles until he reached some stretcher bearers. Holmes then returned to his battalion to find many of them killed or wounded and a gun in danger of being captured by German forces. He placed a wounded man on one of the horses of a artillery gun team and attempted to take him to safety. Unfortunately the man fell off and was lost in the dark, but Holmes reached safety with the gun.