Name
Harold William Holland
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
26/01/1942
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
903638
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WINNIPEG (BROOKSIDE) CEMETERY
Mil. Sec. Lot 1817.
Canada
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Saviour's Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2)
Biography
Prior to coming to the Hitchin Grammar School he attended the British School in Hitchin. He attended the Grammar School from 1927-1931 and was a keen athlete, playing in the first eleven at cricket and football and distinguishing himself at swimming winning several trophies. His scholastic achievements were no less, as he gained his School Certificate with Honours in French and German and he was Exempt Matriculation. He was well-known for his joyous nature, and he had many friends. After matriculation he left school and joined his father's fishmonger business in Hitchin but kept up his outdoor sports.
He joined the Civil Air Guard and was mobilised into the R.A.F. in September 1939 with Service Number 903638. He went to Canada in September 1941 as an instructor and his letters were full of his enjoyment of his job. A number of former Hitchin Grammar School Boys received instruction from him.
It was in Canada at the 8th Repair Depot during training exercises that he accidentally lost his life. At 7.30 pm on the 26th January 1942 in poor weather conditions he was flying in a Lockheed transport aircraft with six other airmen, when it crashed in a field near the town of McGregor in Manitoba. He may have been returning to Stevenson Field after ferrying aircraft to various airfields. The aircraft had circled a beacon south of a farm two miles west of McGregor and near an emergency landing field. The aircraft was obviously in trouble and after a loud explosion crashed and all seven occupants were killed. They were buried with full military honours. He may have been attached to No. 33 Service Flying Training School at Carberry as a number of R.A.F. men from this unit attended the funeral.
He is buried in Grave 1817 in the Military Section of Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg in Canada. A private inscription on the stone reads "Sleep beloved, take thy rest. we loved thee well but Jesus loved thee best".
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Hitchin Grammar School Registers, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Free Press 27-29th Jan 1942, Paul Johnson - local historian, Herts & Beds Express dated 31st Jan 1942
