Edward James Gibson Holland
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Edward James Gibson Holland VC (February 2, 1878, Ottawa - June 18, 1948, Cobalt, Ontario) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Early life
Holland was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute.
[edit] Details
Holland was 22 years old, and a sergeant in The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Army during the Second Boer War. He was one of three men from his regiment who were awarded the VC for actions on 7 November 1900 in South Africa. The citations were published in the London Gazette of 23 April 1901. His read, "Sergeant Holland did splendid work with his Colt gun, and kept the Boers off the two 12-pounders by its fire at close range. When he saw the enemy were too near for him to escape with the carriage, as the horse was blown, he calmly lifted the gun off and galloped away with it under his arm." The other men were Lieutenants Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn and Richard Ernest William Turner. Holland later achieved the rank of Major.
The Canadian Department of National Defence named an armoury after Major Holland in Ottawa, Ontario.
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is currently stored as part of the RCD Archives and Collection at CFB Petawawa, Ontario.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
