Lieutenant J.V. Holland

Regiment: Leinster Regiment
Date published: 24/11/1916
Killed in action: No
Information: Lieutenant J.V. Holland, Leinster Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for the following gallant action. Not content with bombing hostile dug-outs within the objective, he fearlessly led his bombers through our own artillery barrage and cleared a great part of the village in front. He started out with twenty-six bombers, and finished up with only five, after capturing some fifty prisoners. By this very gallant action he undoubtedly broke the spirit of the enemy, and thus saved us many casualties when the battalion made a further advance. He was far from well at the time, and later had to go to hospital. Lieutenant J.V. Holland, who also received the Parchment Certificate of the Irish Brigade for his work in the Somme offensive, is the eldest son of Mr. J. Holland, V.S., Athy (a well known member of the Kildare Hunt). He is about 27 years of age. He was engaged in railway engineering in the Argentine, but volunteered for the Army on the outbreak of war, and returned home in November, 1914. During the great Somme battles Lieutenant Holland was conspicuous for the gallant dash with which he led the daring charge at Guillemont.