Sir Valentine Holmes, QC (24 July 1888 – 19 November 1956) was a British barrister who served as

Junior Counsel to the Treasury (Common Law) Devilling is the period of training, pupillage or junior work undertaken by a person wishing to become an advocate in one of the English-speaking common law systems of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, and Australia. Etymology While there ...

, commonly known as Treasury Devil, from 1935 to 1945. Almost uniquely among treasury devils, he was not elevated to the High Court bench, but instead remained at the bar after his service. The third son of Sir Hugh Holmes, an Irish Unionist politician and judge, Valentine Holmes was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Dublin, before being called to the English bar at the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple in 1913. During the First World War, he served in the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

. After the war, he joined the chambers of Sir Leslie Scott and although the development of his practice was initially slow, he soon acquired a large practice, as well as a reputation as a libel specialist.{{Cite ODNB, id=33959

References

Alumni of Trinity College Dublin 1956 deaths English barristers English King's Counsel Knights Bachelor Royal Artillery officers People educated at Charterhouse School