Thomas William Holmes
Thomas William Holmes VC (October 14, 1898 – January 4, 1950) was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 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. Holmes is the youngest Canadian to ever win the Victoria Cross.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
He was 19 years old, and a private in the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, 2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. On October 26, 1917 near Passchendaele, Belgium, he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross: when the right flank of the Canadian attack was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from a pill-box strong point and heavy casualties were producing a critical situation, Private Holmes, on his own initiative and single-handed, ran forward and threw two bombs, killing and wounding the crews of two machine-guns. He then fetched another bomb and threw this into the entrance of the pill-box, causing the 19 occupants to surrender.
It was during the investiture at Buckingham Palace that Holmes admitted to King George V that he had lied about his age and joined the army at age 17.
After the war Holmes was a pilot for the Harbor Commission for fifteen years. In 1936 he and another officer saved the lives of three persons whose auxiliary cabin boat upset in the harbor. In 1935 his home was robbed and the Victory Cross was stolen. In 1942 Holmes narrowly escaped death when his launch exploded.
[edit] Further information
Died January 4, 1950. Grave/memorial at Buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. His memorial service was attended by Victoria Cross holders Henry Howey Robson, Colin Fraser Barron and Walter Leigh Rayfield.
Thomas Holmes VC medal is now on display at the Owen Sound Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
- The Globe and Mail, January 5, 1950
