James Holmes (trade unionist)

[1] Holmes joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in the early 1880s, but did not become active in the union until around 1890, when he was president of the Retford branch.

The ASRS supported him, and although he found work at the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Doncaster, he remained active in his old union.

Holmes retained his position on a vote of members, but was censured, and in 1906 moved back to Doncaster to organise in northern England,[1] where he remained for the rest of his career, staying post when the ASRS became the National Union of Railwaymen.

Holmes was strongly supportive of Britain's role in World War I and spoke at recruitment meetings, although he opposed conscription.

He left the Labour Party and, although he was active in supporting the railway strike of 1919, he was keen to emphasis his opposition to Bolshevism.