b. 02/02/1878 Ottawa, Canada. d. 18/06/1948 Cobalt, Canada.
Edward James Gibson Holland (1878-1948) was born on 2nd February 1878 in Ottawa, Canada. He attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute. He joined the militia in 1895, at the age of 17. Within four years, he was posted with his regiment to the Second Boer War in South Africa. He had risen to the rank of Sergeant, and alongside Lieutenant Hampden Cockburn and Lieutenant Richard Turner, he would be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Leliefontein on 7th November 1900.
On that day, 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.
Following the gazetting of his VC on 23rd April 1901, he was presented with his medal on the 20th September that year by the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) in Ottawa. He became a commissioned officer in 1901, following the award of his VC.
Holland later achieved the rank of Major and served in World War I with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. He survived the Great War, and returned to Ontario after the end of hostilities. He died aged 70, on 18th June 1948, at his home in Cobalt, Ontario. He was cremated at St James’ Crematorium in Toronto, and his ashes were scattered at Lake Temagami, and also buried in Prescott, Ontario. His medals are held by the Royal Canadian Dragoons Museum, Petawawa, Ontario.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: RCD ARCHIVES, PETAWAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.
BURIAL PLACE:
CREMATED AT ST JAMES CEMETERY, TORONTO. ASHES SCATTERED ON LAKE TEMAGAMI, ONTARIO, CANADA.
Acknowledgement:
Royal Canadian Dragoons Museum – Image of the Edward Holland VC medal.