John Vincent Holland

Clongowes in 1906-1909 I John Vincent Holland

John Vincent Holland (1889-1975), soldier and VC holder, was a native of Athy, County Kildare, who attended Clongowes in 1906-09. He abandoned veterinary studies for a more adventurous career in South America, which included ranching, railway engineering and hunting. Returning to Ireland on the outbreak of World War I, he was commissioned into the Leinster Regiment. He was wounded at the second battle of Ypres in 1915, but recovered to take part in the Somme campaign of 1916, serving as bombing officer in the 7th Battalion of the Leinsters, with the rank of lieutenant. On 3 September he played a crucial role in the capture of Guillemont, rated as one of the great achievements of the 16th (Irish) Division. Having bombed dugouts in the area of his initial objectives, he led his group of twenty-six bombers through the British artillery bombardment into the main section of the village – still occupied by the Germans – where he continued his attack, eventually taking fifty prisoners and breaking the resistance of the defenders. Only five of his party survived the action unscathed. For his bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Remarkably, he was quite ill during this action, and after the capture of the village was immediately admitted to hospital. A modest man, he attributed his award to ‘the fidelity and extraordinary gallantry of the men’ he commanded. He received a civic reception on his return home, but did not remain in Ireland. After a time in the Indian army, he was employed by the colonial service in Kenya. He served as a major in the Indian Army in World War II (in which one of his sons was killed) and finally settled in Australia, where he died at Hobart, Tasmania. He received a state funeral in Australia.