John Vincent Holland
| John Vincent Holland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
19 July 1889 Athy, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Died |
27 February 1975 (aged 86) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British ArmyBritish Indian Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
John Vincent Holland VC (19 July 1889 – 27 February 1975), was an Irish 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.
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.[1]
He died in Hobart, Tasmania on 27 February 1975.
He is survived by his second son Norman Joseph Holland. His eldest son, Major Niall Vincent Holland. M.C. was killed in action near Imphal, Burma in June 1944 while serving in the 4th battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. In turn Norman Holland had six children with Kay Holland (née Smith) and settled in Tasmania originally after migration from England and then eventually in Queensland.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29802. p. 10394. 26 October 1916. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287.
- Ireland's 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)
External links
- John Vincent Holland VC 1889-1975 (Brief biography and details of town hall presentation)