Edmund De Wind

Edmund De Wind (11 December 1883 – 21 March 1918) was an Irish officer who served both the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the British Army during the First World War. Born at Kinvara, Co. Down, Ireland, he was the youngest son of civil engineer Arthur Hughes De Wind and Margaret Jane De Wind. He studied at Campbell College in Belfast and later worked as a clerk in the Bank of Ireland. Seeking new opportunities abroad, De Wind moved to Canada in November 1911. He joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce and worked in Toronto, Yorkton, Humboldt and Edmonton. While living in Toronto, he served five months in the militia with the 2nd Regiment, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

When the First World War broke out, De Wind was residing in Edmonton. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 16 November 1914, receiving service number 79152. Assigned as a private to the 31st Battalion (Alberta Regiment), he trained in Canada before sailing for England aboard the SS Lapland in May 1915. He arrived in France on 15 September 1915. Serving as a heavy machine gunner in the battalion's machine gun section, De Wind took part in trench warfare across Flanders and Picardy. His service in the Canadian Corps included combat action at the St. Eloi Craters, the defense of the Ypres Salient, the Battle of the Somme at Thiepval and Courcelette and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. In March 1917, he was selected for officer cadet training and transferred to England. He attended No. 17 Officer Cadet Corps at Kinmel Park starting in June 1917. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the British Army on 26 September 1917, he received his discharge from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the same date. Posted to the 15th Battalion (North Belfast), The Royal Irish Rifles, 36th (Ulster) Division, he returned to the Western Front in December 1917.

German forces launched Operation Michael on 21 March 1918, beginning their Spring Offensive against British positions southwest of St. Quentin. Second Lieutenant De Wind was stationed at Racecourse Redoubt near Grugies, holding a defensive sector. Enemy infantry assaulted the position in large numbers. For seven continuous hours, De Wind held the redoubt. He was wounded twice during the bombardment and infantry engagements. Despite his injuries, he continued to defend the position until reinforcements arrived. On two separate occasions, accompanied by only two non-commissioned officers, he moved out onto the open parapet under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. De Wind attacked the enemy in the adjacent trench, occupied the position and killed several enemy soldiers. Holding his ground, he continued to repel the attacks until he was seriously injured.

His Victoria Cross citation was in the Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette on 13 May 1919:

"For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 21st March, 1918, at the Race Course Redoubt, near Grugies. For seven hours he held this most important post, and though twice wounded and practically single-handed, he maintained his position until another section could be got to his help. On two occasions, with two N.C.O.'s only, he got out on top under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and cleared the enemy out of the trench, killing many. He continued to repel attack after attack until he was mortally wounded and collapsed. His valour, self-sacrifice and example were of the highest order."

De Wind died on the battlefield at the age of thirty-four. His body was never recovered. He is commemorated on Panels 74 to 76 of the Pozières Memorial on the Somme in France. King George V presented the Victoria Cross to his mother, Margaret Jane De Wind, at Buckingham Palace on 21 June 1919. Mount De Wind in Jasper National Park, Alberta, was named in his honour. He is also commemorated at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, Campbell College and in Comber.