V FORCE Holmes, Denis Cecil Bernard

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Holmes
  • FORENAME
Denis Cecil Bernard
  • UNIT
V Force (Commanding Officer)
  • RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
  • NUMBER
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Order
  • PLACE
Burma 1943-44
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 26.9.1913 Moulmein,Burma
RMC Sandhurst
1st Punjab Regiment,Indian Army 1933 (2Lt)
seconded Assam Rifles 1939/40
2 Bn 1st Punjab Regiment 1942
V Force 1943-44
3 Bn 1st Punjab Regiment 1944
retired from Army 1947
London University postwar (degree in French and Arabic)
Kuwait Oil Company (retired 1967)
schoolmaster,Hawthorns School,Bletchingley,Surrey (retired 1992)
married June Patricia (nee Plunkett) 1945 (predeceased him) (2 sons)
died 18.1.1999
 

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Order : Since my Div has been operating in the WEST MAYU Area, I have been supplied with most valuable information by the Det "V" Force working under Major HOLMES. The collection of this information has involved many long range personal recces by Major HOLMES carried out deep into enemy territory with an audacity and complete contempt for personal safety which is almost unbelievable. In addition to these recces, Major HOLMES was responsible for the planning an execution of the rescue of Pilot Officer CAMPBELL, R.A.F.,who crashed in enemy country and was eventually rescued by a hazardous sea venture from an area over 15 miles South of our forward troops. The initiative, drive, and cold blooded courage displayed by Major HOLMES throughout the period March and April is in my opinion outstanding and worthy of immediate recognition.

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7365513

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7365513
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