Our Own War Hero – General Major William Holmes

This August commemorates the century of the beginning of World War One. War was declared on the 4th of August and the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage was quick to act to protect its assets with a military guard established at Cataract Dam to protect the water supply. On the 19th August a military force of about 1550 men left Sydney under sealed orders, led by the then Colonel William Holmes. William Holmes was the Secretary of the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage when war broke out. He had joined the Board in 1888 becoming its chief clerk and paymaster and was appointed to the position of Secretary in 1895. He served in the Boer War where he was decorated but returned to the position of Secretary after the war while continuing his voluntary military service. This video discusses General Major William Holmes’ military career, and his death on the Western Front in July 1918. © Sydney Catchment Authority