Both his native Northern Ireland and his adopted home of Canada count De Wind amongst the men of their militaries who have earned the VC.

He served with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada for a period of six months prior to his enlistment as a private on 16 November 1914 in the 31st Battalion-Alberta Regiment, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force.

[4] As a 34-year-old Second Lieutenant in the 15th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, he was awarded the VC for deeds committed during the 1918 Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918.

His valour, self-sacrifice and example were of the highest order.De Wind is commemorated by a pillar, bearing his name and date of death, commissioned by his mother and installed at the main entrance on the west front of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.

The entire west front, dedicated in 1927, forms a memorial to the Ulster men and women who served and died in the Great War.