Edward James Gibson Holland

Major Edward James Gibson Holland (2 February 1878, Ottawa – 18 June 1948, Cobalt, Ontario) was a Canadian 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.

Early life
Holland was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute. He joined the militia in 1895, at age 17. He became a commissioned officer in 1901, after earning his VC.

Details
Holland was 22 years old, and a sergeant in The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Army during the Second Boer War. He was one of three men (the other were Lieutenants Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn and Richard Ernest William Turner) from his regiment who were awarded the VC for actions on 7 November 1900 in South Africa. The citations were published in the London Gazette of 23 April 1901. His read: "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." He received the VC from the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) in Ottawa 21 September 1901 in a medal ceremony during the visit to Canada of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York.

Holland later achieved the rank of Major and served in World War I with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. His Victoria Cross is currently stored as part of the RCD Archives and Collection at CFB Petawawa, Ontario.

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Maj EJG Holland VC armoury
The Canadian Department of National Defence named an armoury after Major Holland in Ottawa, Ontario. The armoury located at 2100 Walkley Rd is home to 4 Ottawa area reserve units:
 * 33 Signals Regiment
 * 33 Combat Engineer Regiment
 * 28 (Ottawa) Service Battalion
 * 33 Military Police Platoon