Major Edward Holland Plaque

On Sunday, October 19, 1969, at 3:00 pm, an historical plaque commemorating Major Edward James Gibson Holland, V.C., was unveiled on the grounds of Trafalgar House (headquarters of the Ottawa branch of the Royal Canadian Legion) at 110 Argyle Street.

The ceremony was arranged and sponsored by the Ottawa branch of the Royal Canadian Legion whose president, Colonel W.G. Wurtele, acted as program chairman.  Among those invited to take part were: His worship Don Reid, President of the South African Veterans Association of Ottawa; Professor S.F. wise, of Ottawa, representing the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario; Mr. John Holland, son of Major Edward Holland; Colonel D.V. Currie, V.C., Sergeant-at-Arms; Monsignor A.M. Lapierre and Canon M.K. Robert, Chaplains of the Ottawa branch of the Legion; and the Honourable G.J. McIlwraith, M.P.

The plaque was taken down in 1972 when the Legion offices were demolished and relocated to 100-1800 Bank Street. The plaque did not move with the Legion and there is no record of its whereabouts thereafter.

MAJOR EDWARD J.G. HOLLAND, V.C., 1878-1948

Born in Ottawa, Holland enlisted in 1899 in the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles. He served in the Boer War and, on November 7, 1900, was a member of the small rearguard detachment assigned to cover a withdrawal from the Komati River. For his gallant action during this engagement Holland was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads: “Sergeant Holland did splendid work with his Colt (machine) Gun, and kept the Boers off the two 12-pounders by its fire at close range. When he saw the enemy were too near him to escape with the gun-carriage, as the horse was blown, he calmly lifted the gun off and galloped away with it under his arm.”

LE MAJOR EDWARD J.G. HOLLAND, V.C., 1878-1948

Né à Ottawa, Holland s’engagea en 1899 dans le Premier Régiment Canadien des Fusiliers à Cheval. Il servit dans la Guerre des Boers et faisait partie, le 7 novembre 1900, du petit détachement, d’arrière-garde chargé de couvrir le retraite sur la Rivière Komati. Son intrépidité lors de cet engagement lui valut la Victoria Cross. Il fut cité en ces termes : “Le Sergent Holland s’est servit splendidement de sa mitrailleuse ‘Colt’, maintenant les Boers à distance des deux pièces d’artillerie de 12 par un feu nourri à courte portée. Ne pouvant s’échapper avec l’arme et l’affût, son cheval étant épuisé, Holland prit l’arme sous son bras et s’enfuit au gallop”.