THE VICTORIA CROSS AND FIRST WORLD WAR PAIR OF CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO PRIVATE THOMAS HOLMES, 4TH BN, CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES, CEF, HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM .
16 November 2022

Medal entitlement of Private Thomas William Holmes,
4th Bn, Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force

  • Victoria Cross
  • British War Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )


The Victoria Cross and First World War pair of campaign medals awarded to Private Thomas Holmes, 4th Bn, Canadian Mounted Rifles, has been acquired by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The purchase of the Holmes Victoria Cross group was made possible with the support from the National Collection Fund and from individual donors.

Thomas Holmes had his original Victoria Cross stolen in 1935 and was subsequently issued with an 'official' replacement VC on the 6th August 1935. The Thomas Holmes Victoria Cross group had previously been held by the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 6, Owen Sound, Ontario.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 11 January 1918 ], Passchendaele, Belgium, 26 October 1917, Private Thomas William Holmes, 4th Bn, Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

For most conspicuous bravery and resource ( near Passchendaele, Belgium ) when the right flank of our attack was held up by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from a "Pill-box" strong point.

Heavy casualties were producing a critical situation when Private Holmes, on his own initiative and single-handed, ran forward and threw two bombs, killing and wounding the crews of two machine guns.

He then returned to his comrades, secured another bomb, and again rushed forward alone under heavy fire and threw the bomb into the entrance of the "Pill-box," causing the nineteen occupants to surrender.

By this act of valour at a very critical moment Private Holmes undoubtedly cleared the way for the advance of our troops and saved the lives of many of his comrades.

Thomas Holmes was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 31st December 1918.

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Iain Stewart, 16 November 2022