Born at Chelmsford, Essex. His father was most probably William Holmes, who had married an Elizabeth Cross at Chelmsford on the 18th of June 1835.
Enlisted at London on the 10th of May 1854.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Labourer.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 1st of August 1855.
Sent to Scutari on the 10th of October 1855 and is shown on a nominal roll of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as being On Duty there from the 13th of October. From this he did not serve in Eupatoria with the regiment.
Discharged, "by purchase", from Cahir on the 25th of February 1857. Payment of £30.
Served 2 years 230 days.
Conduct: "very good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.