Edmund De Wind
Second Lieutenant, 15th Battalion. Royal Irish Rifles
- Register No.
- 325 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 15th Battalion. Royal Irish Rifles all Royal Irish Rifles VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th May 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 11th December 1883 at Comber, County Down, Ireland
- Died
- 21st March 1918 near Groagie, France. (Killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Pozieres Memorial, France and Mount De Wind, Alberta, Canada
Digest of citation
On 21st March, 1918, at the Racecourse Redoubt, near Groagie, France, for seven-hour Second Lieutenant De Wind held this important post and though twice wounded and practically single-handed, he maintained his position until another section could be sent to his help. On two occasions, with two NCOs only, he got out on top under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and cleared the enemy out of the trench, killing many of them. He continued to repel attack after attack until he was mortally wounded and collapsed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DE WIND, Edmund. (reg No. 325).
Second Lieutenant 15th Battalion. Royal Irish Rifles.
London Gazetted on 15th May 1919.
Born on 11th December 1883 at Comber, County Down, Ireland.
Died on 21st March 1918 near Groagie, France. (Killed in action).
Memorial at Pozieres Memorial, France and Mount De Wind, Alberta, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st March, 1918, at the Racecourse Redoubt, near Groagie, France, for seven-hour Second Lieutenant De Wind held this important post and though twice wounded and practically single-handed, he maintained his position until another section could be sent to his help. On two occasions, with two NCOs only, he got out on top under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and cleared the enemy out of the trench, killing many of them. He continued to repel attack after attack until he was mortally wounded and collapsed.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Pozieres Memorial, France and Mount De Wind, Alberta, Canada
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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