British Navy Admiral. He was the commander of the British battleship "HMS Hood." He entered the British Navy prior to the First World War and was trained as an gunnery specialist before rising to the rank of captain in June 1926. He served as flag captain on the cruiser HMS Hawkins as well as the battleships HMS Revenge and HMS Resolution. He was the commander of the 2nd cruiser squadron from 1929 to 1931 and vice admiral of the 1st battle squadron from 1934 to 1935. He served as head of the British Naval mission to Greece from mid 1931 until late the following year before being promoted to commodore. He also served as a naval assistant to King George VI and as a representative to the Air Ministry from 1939 to 1940. In October 1940 he was appointed commanding officer of the 7th cruiser squadron before being appointed vice admiral of the battle cruiser squadron and second in command of the British home fleet. He was assigned to the HMS Hood on May 12, 1941. Shortly thereafter he was ordered to locate and sink the German battleship Bismarck. On May 24th the HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales located and engaged the German battleship. The Bismarck quickly found the range scoring direct hits on both the Hood and Prince of Wales. The battle lasted less than ten minutes resulting in the sinking of the Hood and severely damaging the Prince of Wales. Admiral Holland and 1,400 officers and crew members were killed as a result of the shelling. Only three members of the HMS Hood crew survived the sinking. Three days later the Bismarck was attacked an sunk by warships of the British Royal Navy.
British Navy Admiral. He was the commander of the British battleship "HMS Hood." He entered the British Navy prior to the First World War and was trained as an gunnery specialist before rising to the rank of captain in June 1926. He served as flag captain on the cruiser HMS Hawkins as well as the battleships HMS Revenge and HMS Resolution. He was the commander of the 2nd cruiser squadron from 1929 to 1931 and vice admiral of the 1st battle squadron from 1934 to 1935. He served as head of the British Naval mission to Greece from mid 1931 until late the following year before being promoted to commodore. He also served as a naval assistant to King George VI and as a representative to the Air Ministry from 1939 to 1940. In October 1940 he was appointed commanding officer of the 7th cruiser squadron before being appointed vice admiral of the battle cruiser squadron and second in command of the British home fleet. He was assigned to the HMS Hood on May 12, 1941. Shortly thereafter he was ordered to locate and sink the German battleship Bismarck. On May 24th the HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales located and engaged the German battleship. The Bismarck quickly found the range scoring direct hits on both the Hood and Prince of Wales. The battle lasted less than ten minutes resulting in the sinking of the Hood and severely damaging the Prince of Wales. Admiral Holland and 1,400 officers and crew members were killed as a result of the shelling. Only three members of the HMS Hood crew survived the sinking. Three days later the Bismarck was attacked an sunk by warships of the British Royal Navy.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
Gravesite Details
Vice Admiral, Royal Navy. Age: 52.
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