Version 6.01

03 March 2021

David March © 2014

Photo from Our Harvest of Memories

Parents: Algernon and Clara Holmes. Algernon was born in Bedford, England, owner and operator of a blacksmith’s shop. Emigrated to Canada in 1913.

From Our Harvest of Memories

L9850 Clifford Holmes

Cliff was a farmer at Marchant Grove until he joined the Army on Nov 10, 1940 in Prince Albert at the age of 29.

His promotions are as follows:

Sept 1,1942 - from Pte to Lance Corporal

Jan 14,1943 - from Lance Corporal to Corporal

May 21,1945 - from Corporal to Sergeant

Then to Staff Sergeant, a post he held until his discharge at Regina on April 6,1946.

When he was sent to Kingston, Ontario, he travelled by train with many other soldiers. On the trip there, he came down with measles and was very ill so did not remember much about the trip!! After he recovered in the Kingston Army Hospital, he got acquainted with the cook who asked him "Can you cook?". Cliff replied "Some". The cook was going on leave the next day and when Cliff reported to the mess hall next morning, the cook was GONE. It was a good experience because he learned to cook well. So he was a cook in Kingston for a couple of months but was anxious to get out in the "field" again.

While in Kingston, he hoped his next move would be to England as his mother was there through the war years. He was categorised down to an L6 because of his legs so was disappointed.

He spent some time at Joliet, Quebec, then returned to Regina and had an office job.

He returned to Marchant Grove to farm until 1981 when he sold out and moved to Shellbrook. He resided there until he passed away on June 21, 1999.

Informant: Dorothy Holmes (wife) via Doris Schwehr by email 19/6/10

’I was born on the homestead site NW 36-50-3-W3rd on September 24, 1915. I attended Three Creeks School, a walk of three miles. About the age of eleven, I was allowed to ride a horse to school. Other pupils rode horses too and many a good race we had with each other or any Model T’s that happened to be on the road. Our favourite spot at Three Creeks was the "swimming hole", a short half mile from the school. Every boy learned to swim, not always by choice, as the bigger boys threw the younger ones in and it was swim or else! Some of my teachers were Mrs Welch, Miss Herbert, Mrs Clancy, Mr Tetlock, Eleanor (Olson) and Clifford Gaston.

I continued to live on the farm after my Dad passed away in 1935. I joined the army in November 1941, and spent four and one half years in the service, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant before my discharge in April 1946. I returned to farm the original homestead quarter. In April 1948, I bought a quarter from Otto Matz SW-1-51-3-3. I owned this land until 1976, at which time I sold it to Ron and Larry Ferster.

In November 1944, I married Dorothy Atkinson of Young, Saskatchewan, and we lived in Regina until April 1946, when we returned home to the farm. We farmed until 1951, then moved to Prince Albert. There I worked as a salesman for Mann Motors until April 1952, when we moved to the town of Shellbrook. I was employed as a partsman by the Massey Ferguson dealer for almost ten years. At this time, I purchased the Roline homestead from Alex Shillington at Marchant Grove and we moved there in October 1961. We farmed there until October 1981, when we purchased a house in Shellbrook and retired there.’

From Our Harvest of Memories’

Clifford and Dot had five children, Linda, Sheila, Donna, Dale and Rhonda. The family enjoyed getting together to play music and sing, a love of music being a legacy from Dot’s father.

CLIFFORD HOLMES

Private
L9850