Frederick William Holmes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick William Holmes
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| Born | 15 September 1889 Bermondsey, London |
| Died | 22 October 1969 (aged 80) Port Augusta, Australia |
| Buried |
Stirling North Garden Cemetery, Section 2, Row E, Grave 6, Port Augusta, South Australia.
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1907 - 1921 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Médaille militaire |
Captain Frederick William Holmes (1889 – 1969) was a very brave English soldier. He is famous for receiving the Victoria Cross. This is the highest and most respected award for courage. It is given to soldiers from Britain and Commonwealth countries who show incredible bravery in battle.
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A Hero in World War I
Frederick William Holmes was born on September 15, 1889, in Bermondsey, London. He joined the British Army and served in the The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. His bravery during World War I made him a hero.
Bravery at Le Cateau
In 1914, when he was 24 years old, Holmes was a Lance Corporal. This was during the early days of the First World War. On August 26, 1914, a big battle took place at Le Cateau, France.
During this battle, Lance Corporal Holmes showed amazing courage. He carried a wounded soldier out of the trenches. This was very dangerous because there was heavy enemy fire all around.
Later, he helped move a large gun away from the fighting. The driver of the gun had been wounded. Holmes bravely took the driver's place to help save the gun. For these incredibly brave actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later rose through the ranks to become a Captain.
The Indian Rope Trick Story
Frederick Holmes was also involved in a famous story about a magic trick. In 1917, he was a Lieutenant stationed in Kirkee, India. He claimed he saw the famous Indian rope trick being performed.
What Holmes Saw
Holmes said he was on his porch with other officers. They watched an old man and a young boy perform the trick. The boy climbed up a rope, balanced himself, and then came back down. The old man then tapped the rope, and it fell down. However, the boy did not disappear, which is part of the legendary trick.
The Photograph and Its Mystery
In 1919, Holmes showed a photograph he had taken of the trick. He presented it to members of The Magic Circle, a group for magicians. A surgeon named Robert Elliot examined the photo.
Elliot said the photo did not show the real Indian rope trick. He believed it was a balancing act on a bamboo pole. He pointed out that the pole got thinner at the top, which a rope would not do. Holmes later agreed with this explanation.
Even though it was proven not to be the true rope trick, the photograph became famous. Newspapers and magazines published it, claiming it was proof the trick was real. Today, it is still considered the first photograph ever taken of this kind of performance.
