HEANOR OBSERVER
12TH SEPTEMBER 1918
ANOTHER HEANOR SOLDIER KILLED

Mr John Holmes 3 Loscoe Rd Heanor yesterday received the sad intelligence from
the Lichfield record office, that his brother, Pte William Holmes of the Notts and Derby's 
had died from Gas shell wounds on the 9th inst in France.
Pte Holmes leaves a wife and one child to morn his loss. 
Great sympathy is felt for the bereaved families.

HEANOR OBSERVER
3RD OCTOBER 1918
DIED IN HOSPITAL

The late Pte William Holmes
The death in action of Pte W Holmes of Loscoe Rd caused much grief to his own 
family and to his many friends in the Heanor district. He died in Hospital in France 
from gas shell poisoning but before death was able to send a message to his wife, 
written by the occupant of the next bed and stating that his eyes were
very sore and his hand burned, so that he was unable to write himself. 
He was hopeful at that time of recovery and anticipating reaching home, but evidently 
had a relapse and succumbed to his injuries. In response to a request for information 
a letter was received from the sister at the hospital as follows:

            I was with your husband when he died at 2am on September 9th there is not 
very much to tell you about his death only that he was very bright and spoke of getting 
over to England in a day or two. He was quite conscious until about an hour before he died. 
Then he just slept peacefully away.
I was very sorry to lose him as he was such a good patient boy, but the gas had got into 
his lungs and although at first he fought well against the ill effects of it, it overcame him in 
the end. I do not know you, but in having your husband under my care for some days I ask 
you to accept my deepest sympathy for you in your bereavement and hope that time will
help to heal the awful wound of loss.