Glenn M. Holmes

Pte Holmes, G.M. with Margaret (Peggy) Holmes (nee Stephenson) and David, August 1944

Glenn Munroe Holmes, the second eldest child of Harold and Ethel Holmes was born May 21, 1925 in Battleford, Saskatchewan. He died March 5, 1989 in Creston, British Columbia. Details of much of his life are private, as the principle persons involved are still living, and their privacy will be respected.

Between the above two dates he tried his hand at a number of things, doing a creditable job at most of them. By turn and as need arose he was a farmer, a soldier, a cook, a plumber, a sheetmetal worker, a roofer, an equipment operator, a plant operator. His formal education ended at grade four or five, but his ability to figure things out, to make things work, to solve problems revealed a sharp, clever intellect.

He was a volunteer soldier in World War II, posted variously to The Black Watch, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and possibly the Regina Rifles. He enlisted in 1944, serving briefly in Great Britain, then in Holland and Germany. He returned to Canada in April, 1946. He was wounded twice and went to his grave still carrying some rifle grenade shrapnel in his back and legs. While recuperating in the military field hospital he wrote this letter home. On his return he was quoted in the Regina Leader-Post on his experiences. (but they got his name wrong, calling him "George Holmes").
Click here to read the corrected news clipping.

Medals awarded to Pte Holmes, Glenn M. 1939 - 45 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Voluntary Service Medal, War Medal (1945)

He held a membership in the Canadian Legion Branch wherever he lived after the war. His funeral in Creston was a Legion service, with local Legion members and two of his sons who had served in the military (Dave and D'Arcy) as pall bearers.