Major General Matthew John Holmes, CBE, DSO (29 June 1967 – 2 October 2021) was a British senior Royal Marines officer who served for more than three decades in the armed forces.

After studying economics at the University of Exeter, he joined the Royal Marines and undertook early tours of duty to Norway, the Far East, Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe.

[2] After being promoted to brigadier on 19 March 2013, Holmes became Head of Future and Maritime teams at the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre, the Ministry of Defence's think tank.

[12] In that role, and in the context of the Integrated Review, Holmes oversaw the implementation of the Future Commando Force, the modernisation project of the Royal Marines; as a component of the programme the Vanguard Strike Company was formed in July 2020.

[1] Holmes was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire as part of the 2019 Birthday Honours[14] for his "outstanding contribution to the Royal Marines and to the United Kingdom's defence and security interests".

[15] Holmes was a pallbearer at the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021, during the procession to the steps of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

[21] Prior to the funeral, Lieutenant General Robert Magowan sent a letter to retired commanders, appealing for calm following disputes between the Marines and the Royal Navy.

[22] In addition to Holmes' widow and two children, more than 700 people attended the funeral, including the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, his replacement, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, and Rear Admiral Mike Utley, Commander of the UK's Strike Force.

[21] Holmes' coffin, draped in the Union flag with his Royal Marines cap resting on top, was carried into the cathedral by the same pallbearers who had officiated with him at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.