Well, it didn't take her long and she had a TON of information! She'd gone on the Government of Canada website, war records, and there was 50 pages of info on him! It's actually the same site where I found his Attestation Papers a year or so ago and I guess they've digitized more of the records! I remember once time that Father said he'd been told his dad was shot as a deserter during the war.......and, actually, a couple of years ago I did find a list of those shot for deserting and his name wasn't listed. Anyway, here's what I found out.
He did, indeed desert! I think it was May, 1917 - then he must have re-enlisted or something because his record continues right to 1919, when he was discharged. I have yet to study all the info in more depth but wanted to just get this information down so there's some recording of it. Here's the website where his war records is:
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B4460-S017
SO, did he ever come back to Canada? Did he have a new family in England? On one of the papers, he is shown as James Wm Holmes and with a birth place as London, England........what that's about, I have no idea. He did, apparently, spend 9 months in jail for deserting.
SO, the next mystery. When did Grandma actually get together with Patrick O'Brien? Auntie Bessie, Bessie Lilian O'Brien, was born March 10, 1916. That makes her only about 18 months older than Father - and he was a Holmes. Both Auntie Bessie's marriage certificate AND her death certificate show she was born in 1916. By next year I should be able to access her actual birth record, as they are released 100 years after the birth, I believe.
Bessie Lilian O'Brien's marriage and death info:
Not sure whether her middle name is spelled 'Lilian' or 'Lillian'.
I'll keep searching, and Carol, in Terrace is checking England to see if she can find any info on James Lonville Holmes - post World War 1.
Cheerio,
