John Vincent Holland VC (19 July 1889 – 27 February 1975), was World War I Irish soldier, and the recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and Commonwealth forces.

Early life and education

Holland was born into a middle-class family in Athy, County Kildare, the son of veterinary surgeon John Holland and Catherine Peppard. He was educated first at

Clongowes Wood College Clongowes Wood College SJ is a voluntary boarding school for boys near Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, founded by the Jesuits in 1814, which features prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel ''A Portrait of the Artist as a Yo ...

and later at

Liverpool University , mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning , established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...

, and was one of 600 Old Clongovians to enlist in the army during World War One.

World War 1

On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the 2nd Life Guards in November 1914 undergoing his training in Cumbermere Barracks Windsor. After a short time with the Life Guards he was granted a commission with the 3rd Battalion of the Leinster Regiment. In March 1915 he was attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was then wounded in August and returned to England and Ireland to convalesce, but it wasn't long until he was back in France and back with the 7th Battalion Leinster Regiment serving as battalion bombing officer. On 3 September 1916, during the

Somme Offensive The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place be ...

, whilst engaged in intense combat in the vicinity of the village of Guillemont, Holland was awarded the

for the following action: ''"During a heavy engagement, Lt. 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."'' Holland was subsequently promoted to Captain. During the war he was also Mentioned in Dispatches and received a personal "Hickie Parchment" from his Divisional General-Officer-Commanding, Major-General

William Hickie Major General Sir William Bernard Hickie, (21 May 1865 – 3 November 1950) was an Irish-born senior British Army officer and an Irish nationalist politician. As a British Army officer Hickie saw active service in the Second Boer War from 1899 ...

, in recognition of his bravery in action.

Later life

In 1917, Holland married Frances Grogan at the cathedral in

Cork City Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city's ...

. Together they had two sons: Major Niall V. Holland (d. 1944), who was killed in Burma during the Second World War and Norman J. Holland. He was seconded for service with the Indian Army in the rank of Lt. 31st October 1919. On the 13th November 1919 he was appointed on probation to the Indian Army as a Captain, an appointment that was confirmed on the 27th November 1920. In September 1922 he retired from the army. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Holland again commissioned, serving as administrative officer of the

79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery The 79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (79th (HY) HAA Rgt) was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed just before World War II, it fought in the Battle of France, the Swansea Bli ...

, then re-joined the Indian Army but was invalided out in 1941. He then took up a position with the Ministry of Food. In 1956, Holland and his wife emigrated to Hobart, in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

Death

Holland died in Hobart in February 1975 at the age of 86. His body was buried in

Cornelian Bay Cemetery Cornelian Bay Cemetery is a cemetery in Cornelian Bay, Tasmania, Australia. It is the oldest cemetery in Tasmania that remains in use. History The cemetery location, a section of the former Government Farm site, was selected in the late 1860s ...

, with military honours. His wife, Frances, pre-deceased him, dying in 1960. Holland lived to see the birth of his great-grandchild.

Tribute

On 3 September 2009 a memorial plaque was unveiled at Guillemont Church in France dedicated to the memory of the three soldiers who won Victoria Crosses in the fighting at the village during the Somme in 1916, Holland's name being one of the three.

References

External links

John Vincent Holland VC 1889-1975
''(Brief biography and details of town hall presentation)'' * {{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, John Vincent 1889 births 1975 deaths Military personnel from County Kildare People from Athy British Army personnel of World War I Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment officers Irish Battle of the Somme recipients of the Victoria Cross British emigrants to Australia British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross People educated at Clongowes Wood College Alumni of the University of Liverpool British Indian Army officers Indian Army personnel of World War II British expatriates in Kenya British Army personnel of World War II Royal Artillery officers Burials in Tasmania