Edmund De Wind VC was born in Comber, County Down, Ireland. Educated at Campbell College, he worked for the Bank of Ireland until 1911 when he came to Edmonton Alberta and joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

In 1915 he enlisted with the 31st Canadian Battalion. He had fought at the Battles of St. Eloi, Ypres and the Somme. In September 1917 he transferred to the 17th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles with the rank of lieutenant.

On 21 March 1918, the first day of a massive German offensive, along a 54 mile front, De Wind though twice wounded, in his British machine gun post, at the Race Course Redoubt near Grougie. held off the enemy practically singlehandedly for seven hours until reinforcements arrived.

On two occasions De Wind went over the top in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire to clear out an enemy trench by killing its occupants. Back at his post he continued to repel attack, after attack until, mortally wounded, he collapsed and died. For his valour, De Wind was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). His name appears on the Pozieres Memorial in France. In addition, a mountain in Jasper Park Alberta is named after him.