Edmund De WIND. V.C.

Second Lieutenant Edmund De WIND, Victory Cross, 15th Royal Irish Rifles, formerly Private 79152, 31st Canadian Infantry. Son of Arthur Hughes De Wind, C.E., and Margaret Jane De Wind, of Kinvara, Comber, Co. Down. Ireland
Embarked from Bristol Port on ship, Royal George to Montreal, Canada 1 November 1911.
Killed in action at the Race Course Redoubt, near Grugies 21st March 1918 aged 34. He has no known grave.
Commemorated on the Poziers Memorial, Somme, France, and also on the Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial

Notes from his Canadian Army Record.
Born 11 December 1883 in Comber, Ireland. Enlisted at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 16 November 1914 aged 30 into 13th Battalion Canadian Infantry as Private 79152, His civilian occupation was a bank official. 12 May 1915 Embarked at Calgary, Canada on SS Northumberland for England. 29 May 1915 Disembarked in England. He went absent without leave (AWOL) at Otterpool Camp. Kent on the 29 July 1917 at 9.30am to 30 July 1915 and 11am.
15 September 1915 embarked for France and disembarked at Boulogne the following day.
20 March 1917 in the field he was transferred to England and posted to Alberta Regimental Depot, Bramshott to attend cadet school with a view of obtaining a commission. He was posted to 170th Cadet Corps, Kinmel Park Canadian Army Camp, Rhyl
25th September 1917 he was discharged to commission from 31st Canadian Infantry to 15th Royal Irish Rifles.

Citation
An extract from The London Gazette dated 13th May, 1919, records the following.
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

Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Edmund de Wind of Kinvard, Comber County Down. 2nd Lieutenant, 15th Royal Irish Rifles died 21 March 1918 at St Quentin, France. Probate Belfast to Catherine Anne Allen married woman

Photograph taken near the Comber War Memorial, County Down, Northern Ireland on Remembrance Day 2020.