Helmet spike : Sergeant S Holmes, 4 Regiment New South Wales Volunteer Infantry

Nickel plated brass helmet spike as worn by members of the New South Wales colonial infantry forces. The base of the spike has a long brass screw which fits through the dome shaped base plate and is held in place inside the helmet by a round brass nut.

Born in Newcastle in 1859, Samuel Holmes joined the 4th Regiment New South Wales Volunteer Infantry in 1885, a year after it had been raised. The regiment was based at Newcastle, with companies in outlying districts. Holmes, living at West Wallsend, was a member of E Company, and was assigned the regimental number 387. He served for 40 years with the unit, and those that succeeded it : 4 Australian Infantry Regiment (1903-1908); 4 Infantry Regiment (1908-1911); 16 Australian Infantry Regiment (1911-1912); 16 Infantry (Newcastle) Battalion (1912-1913); 16 Infantry (Newcastle) Regiment (1913-1914) and 2 Infantry Regiment (1915-). Holmes rose to the rank of sergeant major. He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal in March 1906. Holmes lived at Wallsend all his life. He died in 1945. This helmet spike was originally attached to the white cork helmet that was worn with Holmes' scarlet tunic (REL36941.001).