The Canadian War Museum has acquired three First World War-era Victoria Crosses awarded to Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind, Sergeant Thomas William Holmes and Private James Peter Robertson.
The Ottawa-based museum now holds 36 of the 73 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians who fought in the First World War.
“We are pleased to be able to acquire these three Victoria Crosses, the highest honour for military valour,” said Dean Oliver, the museum’s acting vice-president and director general. “Each medal highlights a personal story of exceptional bravery under extraordinary circumstances.”
The museum’s purchases, which came from anonymous sellers for undisclosed prices, were made possible with support from the National Collection Fund and individual donors.
Overall, the museum now holds 42 Victoria Crosses, including five medals from the Second World War plus one from the 19th century.
A total of 99 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians, “each one reflecting the outstanding heroism of ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances,” according to a statement issued by the museum on Nov. 1, when it announced the acquisition.