The remarkable life of Ernie Holmes, World War Two Pathfinder, was honoured with a Memorial Service in Perth today.
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The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight provided a Spitfire and Hurricane flypast in honour of Ernie, with over 200 guests and distinguished individuals in attendance: including Air Officer Scotland, The Lord Lieutenants of Fife, the Dutch Military Attaché, the Provost of Perth, and Group Captain Montgomery RAF (Retired).
The Service was made extra special with the attendance of a Dutch family. They gave refuge to Ernie during World War Two, after his Lancaster aircraft was shot down by an enemy cannon. The father of the family, Fons Van der Heijden, was killed just before the village of Netersel was liberated, for harbouring Ernie and many other escaping airmen. One of Fons’ children, Jan, was a young man at the time, and three of his five children have since entered service.
Coinciding with RAF Lossiemouth’s Friends and Families Day celebrations, performances by the RAF Falcons and Typhoon Display Team also honoured the day.
Up to 50 RAF Air Cadets visited the station, gifting two cheques to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Later, the Cadets were treated to a tour of the Spitfires involved in the flypast, as well as the Grob Tutor aircraft and Army vehicles.
Ernie Holmes
Ernie Holmes volunteered to join the RAF aged only 19. He went on bombing operations over Germany, as a Pathfinder with 35 Squadron Lancaster. During a routine flight over the Netherlands, Ernie and his crew were intercepted by an enemy canon that fatally damaged their Lancaster. The crash claimed the lives of 5 crewmates, yet Ernie managed to parachute out the aircraft into a field. A memorial was built in 2018 to commemorate the Lancaster crash site.
Th Dutch Fons Van der Heijden family gave Ernie refuge in the roof of their farm pigsty, until he was betrayed and incarcerated in Stalag Luft III Prisoner of War camp. The farmer was later shot for his selfless kindness saving the lives of Ernie, among many other escaping airmen, when hiding them from the enemy.
In January 1945, Ernie alongside thousands of prisoners trapped in Stalag Luft III, attempted to flee to Western Europe. They were successful, despite the horrific conditions, little food or drink, and inadequate equipment; with their journey being made infamous in the Hollywood film, ‘The Great Escape.’
Read more about 'The Great Escape'
Ernie was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role as a Pathfinder with the Lancaster Squadron. He went on to marry and have two children with Irene Spinks, who he had met during Basic Training years earlier.
Ernie worked as a Qualified Flying Instructor for the Glasgow and St Andrews University Air Squadrons. His aviation skill took Ernie to Iraq, where he saved the lives of two Iraqi students and his Cessna aircraft. He even establish a flying school in Uganda. However, his sight deteriorated, forcing Ernie to return to Perth as a social worker at Perth Prison.
To celebrate Ernie’s 100th birthday anniversary in 2021, representatives of the Netherlands Defence Force presented him with a Dutch Liberators medal. The Leuchars headquarters of East of Scotland University Air Squadron was also renamed ‘The Holmes Building’ after him. Two weeks later, Ernie sadly passed away and donated his body to medicine.
Watch a video on more of Ernie Holmes DFC 100th Birthday Celebrations
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