Walton Bruce Holmes

South African Infantry, 6th Regiment 

Walton Bruce Holmes was the son of William Holmes and Margaret Holmes nee Wade. Born in November 1890 in Durban, South Africa, he attended Alleyn’s from 1899 to 1902. His father’s occupation was an Export Agent which meant that the young Walton had already lived in Durban in South Africa, Montrose in Scotland, Herne Hill in London and then in Dulwich all before the age of 10.

He travelled from London to Durban in October 1897 with his family aboard the ‘Umtali’ and had clearly returned to London by 1899 when he was enrolled at Alleyn’s. The family returned to Natal in July 1902. From there Walton was enrolled at the Durban High School, 1902 to 1903.

After leaving school he worked as a clerk and sometime after the outbreak of WW1 Walton joined the 2nd South African Infantry Brigade which was formed in November 1915 out of the  5th, 6th, 7th and 8th South African Infantry Regiments. Holmes served as a private, in the 6^th Regiment in East Africa. This regiment fought at Salaita in February 1916. 

On 5^th July 1916 Wallace died of septicaemia in Nairobi Hospital in Kenya. He was buried in Nairobi South Cemetery, and is commemorated in Stellawood Cemetery in Durban, on the war memorial of Durban High School, and on the Durban Cenotaph War Memorial.

With thanks to Kevin Jordan, school archivist at Glenwood High School in Durban for much of the information presented here. Holmes’ role in World War One, and his connection to Alleyn’s was unknown to Alleyn’s until Jordan began working on the Roll of Honour for Durban High School in 2025.