"They shall grow not old, as we that are
left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years
condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the
morning
We will remember them".
Eric Stanley Holloway was born in Maidenhead in 1920 to Roland Percy Holloway and his wife Violet Katherine Thrift.
Eric was involved in a motorcycle accident on 18th April 1937, where his friend was taken to hospital. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Wednesday 21st April 1937:
"Castle Hill Accident- Charles Smith (19), of 31, Crossthwaite Way, Burnham, was taken to Maidenhead Hospital by borough ambulance as a result of an accident near Queen Anne's School, Castle Hill, on Sunday afternoon. He was riding pillion on a motor-cycle driven by Eric Stanley Holloway (17), of 244 Bell-street, Maidenhead. When the latter braked, the machine skidded on the wet road, and Smith was thrown off. He sustained concussion, injuries to the left side of his face, abrasions to his hands, and his front teeth were knocked out. Holloway escaped injury.
"Castle Hill Accident- Charles Smith (19), of 31, Crossthwaite Way, Burnham, was taken to Maidenhead Hospital by borough ambulance as a result of an accident near Queen Anne's School, Castle Hill, on Sunday afternoon. He was riding pillion on a motor-cycle driven by Eric Stanley Holloway (17), of 244 Bell-street, Maidenhead. When the latter braked, the machine skidded on the wet road, and Smith was thrown off. He sustained concussion, injuries to the left side of his face, abrasions to his hands, and his front teeth were knocked out. Holloway escaped injury.
In 1938 Eric enlisted with the Royal Air Force, 42 Squadron, and was training to become a pilot.
On Saturday 19th July 1941, Eric and two friends were involved in a fatal automobile accident. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Wednesday 23rd July 1941:
"Terrible Road Tragedy.
Three Maidenhead Victims In Head-On Car Collision.
Four Killed and Five Injured.
Inquest Adjourned.
A terrible road accident in which for were killed and five injured occurred on Saturday last at 11.30 p.m. on the Twyford By-pass road on the section known as Floral Mile. It was dark and raining heavily at the time. As far as can be gathered a head-on crash occurred between a car travelling int he direction of Maidenhead and a lorry approaching from the opposite direction. A second car following is understood to have crashed into the first vehicle and as a result the following persons were either killed instantly or died within a short time of the accident.
Hilda Hooper, age 17, Edith Mabel Hooper, age 18, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hooper, of the Craufurd Arms, Gringer Hill, Maidenhead.
"Terrible Road Tragedy.
Three Maidenhead Victims In Head-On Car Collision.
Four Killed and Five Injured.
Inquest Adjourned.
A terrible road accident in which for were killed and five injured occurred on Saturday last at 11.30 p.m. on the Twyford By-pass road on the section known as Floral Mile. It was dark and raining heavily at the time. As far as can be gathered a head-on crash occurred between a car travelling int he direction of Maidenhead and a lorry approaching from the opposite direction. A second car following is understood to have crashed into the first vehicle and as a result the following persons were either killed instantly or died within a short time of the accident.
Hilda Hooper, age 17, Edith Mabel Hooper, age 18, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hooper, of the Craufurd Arms, Gringer Hill, Maidenhead.
Eric Stanley Holloway, Leading Aircraftsman, age 20, whose parents live at 44, Bell Street, Maidenhead.
Terence Graham Evans, Second Lieutenant, age 27, of the Devonshire Regiment.
Terence Graham Evans, Second Lieutenant, age 27, of the Devonshire Regiment.
The five injured people were: Frank Streatfield Moore, Oakhanger Park, Shefford Woodlands; 2nd Lieut Stanley Sidney Phillips, of the Devonshire Regiment; Mrs. Joan Millicent Bradley, Brook Cottage, Donnington, near Newbury; Mrs. Constance Phillips, Brook Cottage, Donnington; Mrs. Margaret Jean Chadwick, Hedley, near Newbury.
The car in which to two unfortunate Maidenhead girls were riding was being driven by Holloway and it is understood that the party were returning from Reading where they had spent the evening. The other car was driven by Frank Streatfield Moore, Oakhanger Park, Shefford Woodlands. He and four of his passengers were injured and were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. A fifth passenger, Lieut. evean, was killed.
The Lorry, which was owned by the Thatcham Transport Services, was driven by Edward Wannell, Coldharbour-lane, Camberwell.
An inquest formally opened by Mr. R. S. Payne (coroner for the Reading Division of Berkshire) at Wokingham yesterday (Tuesday), when evidence of identification was given."
~ ~ ~
"Ronald Percy Holloway, father of Leading Aircraftsman Holloway, 44, Bell-street, Maidenhead, said his son went out on Saturday afternoon, but did not say where he was going. He was on 14 days' leave. He was a leading aircraftsman in the R.A.F. and was shortly going to pass out as a pilot. He had frequently driven cars during the last three years, and was apprenticed to the motor trade before enlisting in 1939.
Dr. G. R. Macfarlane, resident surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, said Holloway died a few minutes after admission to the hospital. His abdomen must have been crushed, because the spleen and liver were ruptured. Both femurs and the pelvis were fractured. Death was due to a ruptured spleen."
The coroner adjourned the inquest until 6th August 1941, in the hopes the injured would be well enough by then to give evidence. On the 24th July 1941 Eric, Hilda, and Edith Mabel were buried at All Saint's Maidenhead Cemetery, All saint's Road, Maidenhead. On Wednesday 30th July the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:
"Leading Aircraftsman E. S. Holloway
Leading Aircraftsman Eric Stanley Holloway's home was at 44 Bell-street, Maidenhead. He was a popular young man, and had many friends in the town. He enlisted in the R.A.F. in September 1938, and was preparing to take his examinations for the position of pilot. Before joining the Air Force he was employed at Stevenson's Garage, King-street. The officiating clergyman was Rev. R. B. Lunt (Vicar of St Mary's) The coffin was draped with the R.A.F. colours, and eight members of the unit to which the deceased was attached acted as bearers."
Such a tragic end to four young people's lives.
"Leading Aircraftsman E. S. Holloway
Leading Aircraftsman Eric Stanley Holloway's home was at 44 Bell-street, Maidenhead. He was a popular young man, and had many friends in the town. He enlisted in the R.A.F. in September 1938, and was preparing to take his examinations for the position of pilot. Before joining the Air Force he was employed at Stevenson's Garage, King-street. The officiating clergyman was Rev. R. B. Lunt (Vicar of St Mary's) The coffin was draped with the R.A.F. colours, and eight members of the unit to which the deceased was attached acted as bearers."
Such a tragic end to four young people's lives.
I'm always glad that you share these on Wednesdays --- it's nice that these people are remembered.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Unfortunately I'm just about to run out of war graves to research in my area.
Delete