John Vincent Holland
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| John Vincent Holland | |
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| Born | 19 July 1889 Athy, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Died | 27 February 1975 (aged 86) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
John Vincent Holland VC (19 July 1889 – 27 February 1975), Holland was a British Army officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War.
[edit] Biography
Holland was born in Athy, County Kildare. During the First World War he was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, British Army, attached to 7th Battalion. On 3 September 1916 at Guillemont, France, he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. During a heavy engagement, Lieutenant Holland, not content with bombing hostile dug-outs, fearlessly led his troops through our own artillery barrage and cleared a great part of the village in front. He started out with 26 troops and finished with only five after capturing some 50 prisoners. By this gallant action he undoubtedly broke the spirit of the enemy and saved many casualties.
He died in Hobart, Tasmania on 27 February 1975.
[edit] References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clark 1986)
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
- John Vincent Holland VC 1889-1975 (Brief biography and details of town hall presentation)
