William Holmes (British Army officer)


Sir William Holmes

Lieutenant-General William Holmes stands on a Sherman tank of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, 5 April 1943
Born(1892-08-20)20 August 1892
Died16 January 1969(1969-01-16) (aged 76)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
Service years1911–1945
RankLieutenant-General
Service number4613
UnitRoyal Welsh Fusiliers
East Lancashire Regiment
CommandsNinth Army (1942–45)
British Troops in Egypt (1941–42)
X Corps (1940–42)
42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division (1938–40)
8th Infantry Brigade (1935–37)
2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (1929–33)
1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1916–19)
ConflictsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches (6)
Silver Medal of Military Valor (Italy)
Order of the Phoenix (Greece)
Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland)

Lieutenant-General Sir William George Holmes, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar (20 August 1892 – 16 January 1969) was a senior British Army officer who fought with distinction in the First World War. He later served in the Second World War, where he commanded the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division during the Battle of France in May/June 1940.