William Edgar Holmes was an English 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.

He was 23 years old, and a Private in the 2nd Bn., Grenadier Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 October 1918 at Cattenieres , France, Private Holmes carried in two men under the most intense fire and while he was attending to a third case he was severely wounded. In spite of this he continued to carry in the casualties, and was shortly afterwards mortally wounded. By his self-sacrifice this man was the means of saving the lives of several of his comrades.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Grenadier Guards RHQ) (London, England).

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.