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SECOND OFFICER(SE) TONY HOLMES, CROSSED THE BAR. SITREP 1

thomas
Crossed the Bar

t is with so much sadness that I  announce  that Second Officer(SE) Anthony (Tony) Francis Holmes RFA(Retd), crossed the bar on the 30th Jan 2015, he was 75.

A long time and active member of both the  RFA Association and the South Atlantic Medal Association he will be greatly missed.

Tony remained a batchelor all his life so on behalf of the RFA Association I offer our sincere condolences to his sister Patricia Kimmins, nieces and all his family. His brother, a surgeon pre-deceased him.

His funeral service took take place at Kirkby Catholic Church on 25th February 2015 at 11am, followed by commital at Mansfield Cemetery. If desired donations should be made to the R.N.L.I. (HERE for their website).

Tony will be missed at RFAA and SAMA functions, and at the Annual National Service of Remembrance at Whitehall where he marched with SAMA representing the RFAA.

 

If you have a remembrance of Tony please email it to me at deputy.chairman@rfaa.uk and I will post them on this page. I am also looking for photographs of Tony for this piece and the RFA Association Galery and Archive, If you have one please email it to me.

 

Martin Seymour writes:-

A surprise as he seemed so chirpy the last two times I saw him (RFA Reunion at Liverpool and the R/O’s bash). He did however tell me he had had a few problems down below but that they appear to have been sorted. I was looking forward to meeting him again in May at the China Fleet Club. Tony was always so meticulous in all that he did and always made a favourable comment on peoples shoes, if they were shiny. I believe he started life in the RAF but I may be wrong there. Tony used to like a G&T before dinner or on a Sunday lunchtime. One time, on an ‘O’ boat with a characterful Captain, we had watched the film ‘The Caine Mutiny’ on a Saturday evening and at lunchtime the following Sunday, the Captain had been presented with a gold tie pin by the embarked Wessex Flt. Whilst unwrapping it the Captain was heard to say ‘I wonder what this is?’. In the following silence a small voice was heard to utter from the rear of the crowded mess ‘b b b b ball bearings’.
Goodbye Tony old friend.

Martin Seymour

(I believe he started his career as a Marconi Sparks in Union Castle, I hope to speak to his family soon, I will aske them, Pat)

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