The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The original grave of eight airmen of No. 460 Squadron RAAF killed on a raid on Chemnitz, Germany on 5 March 1945. The grave is marked by a large block of wood carved into an Iron Cross shape with the words 'Hier ruhen acht Englische Flieger +[sign of the cross] am 5 3 1945 Todlich Abgesturtz' [Here lie eight English Airmen killed in a crash on 5 3 1945]. The pilot of the Lancaster aircraft was Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John Cecil Holmes, of Brisbane, Qld, a woolclasser in civilian life. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 25 February 1945 and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for 'numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty'. Other members of his crew killed were 412815 Flt Lt Thomas Ernest Victor Morgan DFM, RAAF, air gunner and Gunnery Leader of the Squadron; 409653 Flying Officer (FO) Ivan Sydney Baudinette RAAF, wireless operator, air gunner; 408440 FO Donald George Hudspeth RAAF, navigator; 430159 Flight Sergeant T. T. Clarke RAAF, second pilot flying with the crew on operational experience; 412167 Warrant Officer Alwyn (Elwyn?) Oswald Thomas Mayne RAAF, air gunner; Sgt J Young RAF, flight engineer; Sgt R. E. Hayward RAF, bomb aimer. (Donor P. Holmes)
1939-45 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoomba be
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasse
Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoom
Distinguished Flying Cross. Privately engraved reverse with recipient's details and date of death. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, h
France and Germany Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in T
Octagonal aluminium identity disc with a hole at each end. The obverse is engraved, '405797 HOLMES J. C RAAF CE'. The reverse is engraved, 'O' and the numeral '4' in a circle. This identity disc
Studio portrait of 405792 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John Cecil Holmes, pilot of No. 460 Squadron, RAAF, of Brisbane, Qld. Flt Lt Holmes, a woolclasser in civilian life, was born on 2 September 1921 a
Probably Binbrook, England. c. 1944. Informal group portrait of four officers of a crew of 460 Squadron in a country lane holding two bicycles. From left to right Tom Holst, rear gunner; Jack Gray, b
Four Australian air crew stand between a plane and a truck. Left to right; Douglas (no further details known); 402087 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, later Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]) Gordon Sumner Hissey,
Distinguished Flying Cross. Privately engraved reverse with recipient's details and date of death. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, h
1939-45 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoomba be
France and Germany Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in T