Source: Via Mark Carmichael Excel spreadsheet dated September 2025 re. soldiers of the 116th Battalion that served with the 18th.
Family Search: Private John William Holmes was born on 11 October 1897, in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom as the son of William Henry Holmes and Mary Ann Wilkinson. He married Edna Eva Hilton on 19 May 1919, in London Township, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Halifax St James, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom in 1901. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1931, at the age of 34, his occupation is listed as miller in London, Ontario, Canada. He died on 30 June 1974, in London, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 76.
Private John William Holmes. Regimental no. 775500.
This man enlisted with the 126th Overseas Battalion at Brampton, Ontario on 15 January 1916. He was a farm labourer by trade and had no prior military experience.
He embarked at Halifax, Nova Scotia for England on 14 August 1916, arriving at Liverpool on the 24th aboard the SS Empress of Britain.
He was transferred to the 116th on 15 October 1916 and was moved to Bramshott Camp. He was then transferred to the 18th Battalion and arrived at the Canadian Base Depot, Harve on 29 November 1916, and arrived “in the field” with the 18th Battalion on 3 December 1916.
He was ill from 9 January 1917 to 1 February 1917 with a pyrexia of unknown origin.
He was wounded on 26 February 1917 with a GSW to the right thigh and shipped to England for treatment aboard the H.S. Panama on 14 March 1917.
His wounds being of a nature that he would not be able to fight again necessitated his transport to Canada for discharge due to being medically unfit for further service. he was sent home from Liverpool, England on 26 August 1917.
He was discharged at London, Ontario on 20 August 1918.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 