heavy casualties to the garrison, including Fergusson who was injured for a second time. Holmes commanded his division at Bullecourt in April, where he opposed the operation that ultimately caused his division very heavy losses, and at Messines in June. On 2 July 1917, Holmes took the Premier of New South Wales, William Holman, to survey the Messines battlefield. The party left his car in order to avoid a dangerous corner, something Holmes usually would not do. As they set out on foot, a German shell, believed to be a seventy-seven, or a "pip-squeak" landed nearby and Holmes was hit through the chest and lung. His aide, Captain Maxwell, along with Frank Edwards the private secretary to Holman, took Holmes to the nearest aid post, where he died. He was buried at Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France. Holmes was the most senior Australian officer killed in action on the Western Front. A memorial service was held for him in October 1917 at St Matthias' Anglican Church, Paddington, the church where he and Susan were married. Memorial William Holmes Street in the Potts Hill Business Park, Potts Hill New South Wales is named after Major General William Holmes. Potts Hill Business Park is on the edge of the Potts Hill reservoir, a major water storage operated by Sydney Water. General Holmes Drive that runs between Botany Bay and Sydney Airport is named after him. Holmes Avenue, Clontarf, New South Wales, is also named after him. See also List of Australian diarists of World War I List of Australian generals References External links Ross Mallett, William Holmes, General Officers of the First AIF, adfa.edu.au B. H. Travers, 'Holmes, William (1862–1917)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Press, 1983, pp 349–351. 1862 births 1917 deaths Military personnel from New South Wales Australian generals Australian military personnel of the Second Boer War Australian military personnel killed in World War I People from Sydney Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Australian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Administrators of the Territory of New Guinea