Sergeant Thomas William Holmes

1. Private (Army). 1917-02-07 ?
2. Sergeant (Army). 1917-02-07 to 1919-04-11
3. Private (Army). 1915-12-20 to 1917-02-07

Victoria Cross (Passchendaele, Belgium)
Description: When the right flank of our own attack was held up by machine gun fire from the pill box, producing heavy casualties, Holmes on his own initiative, and single-handed, ran forward and threw bombs, killing or wounding the crews of two machine guns, then returned, secured another bomb, and again rushed forward alone and threw a bomb into the pill box entrance, causing nineteen occupants to surrender.
Date of award: 1917-10-26
Comment: Tommy Holmes lied about his age listing his date of birth as the 17 Aug 1897.  Given his actual date of birth (14 Oct 1898) Tommy Holmes was the youngest Canadian winner of the Victoria Cross at that time.
Notes: Owen Sound Branch, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #6

Religion: Salvation Army

Date of birth on attestation papers was August 17, 1897.

Youngest Canadian winner of the Victoria Cross. Won VC as a private.

Wikipedia entry

When the right flank of our own attack was held up by machine gun fire from the pill box, producing heavy casualties, Holmes on his own initiative, and single-handed, ran forward and threw bombs, killing or wounding the crews of two machine guns, then returned, secured another bomb, and again rushed forward alone and threw a bomb into the pill box entrance, causing nineteen occupants to surrender.

Tommy Holmes lied about his age listing his date of birth as the 17 Aug 1897. Given his actual date of birth (14 Oct 1898) Tommy Holmes was the youngest Canadian winner of the Victoria Cross at that time.