Frederick William Holden

  General Notes:

[Holden.GED]


[Brøderbund WFT European Origins Vol. E1, Ed. 1, Tree #0488, Date of Import: 25 Mar 1999]

Frederick William Holden was born 29 June 1914 at Brasted, Kent, England. He joined the RAF in 1933 was 516363 AC2 when he went through the Training Depot at Uxbridge, Middlesex, England. He was subsequently posted to Iraq to 55 (Bomber) Squadron, where in October 1937 he went on an inter- command flight. Quote Operations Record Book 55 (Bomber) Squadron, " October. Twelve aircraft led by the Commanding Officer left DHIBBAN on the 4th on an Inter-Command Development Flight to ADEN via the PERSIAN GULF, the SUDAN, EGYPT, PALESTINE and TRANSJORDAN, and returned according to itinerary on the 26th." While on that flight he was injured and left in hospital at HELIOPOLIS. To quote Air Commodore (Retired) Guy W. Hayes,
" The decoration awarded to HOLDEN at HABBANIYA, IRAQ, 8th August 1938, was for an act of Extreme Bravery in regard to an incident concerning an aircraft of No. 55 Squadron, at HELIOPOLIS, EGYPT on October 23, 1937. At the time Holden was a W/T operator, a member of the crew of my aircraft, a Vickers Vicount #K6338, of 55 (Bomber) Squadron, of which I was the pilot, and incidentally Officer Commanding the Squadron. The Squadron was on an Inter-Command Colonial Development Flight, leaving Habbaniya, Iraq on the 4th of October 1937, and landing at Heliopolis, Egypt on 21st October 1937, via various landing grounds around the Arabian Peninsula: Aden; Port Sudan; Khartoom; and Cairo, Egypt. It was customary in those days, prior to landing at a strange location, to fire a cartridge from a very pistol to obtain from the smoke, the direction of the wind, if not otherwise discernable, and I ordered my crew to prepare to fire the pistol. In fact I saw the wind direction from dust blown on the wind and cancelled the firing of the very pistol outright. - Unfortunately, as it later transpired, the very pistol was not unloaded prior to landing at Heliopolis, where we landed the same day after some 2 hours of flying. On October 23 1937, all 12 aircraft were re fueled prior to completing the long distance flight to Habbaniya, Iraq and engines were started in order to make a short "test flight" prior to the initial "Take-off" for the last leg of the flight. It was then that I heared a loud report behind me and realized that by accident the very pistol had discharged inside the aircraft, and that an unfortunate and potentially dangerous inboard fire was likely! I immediately taxied my aircraft clear of all others, and on reaching "open space", Holden in an act of extreme bravery and total disregard of injury to himself, threw the burning signal flair out of the aircraft using only his bare hands to do so!! It was most unfortunate that the very pistol had been left "loaded", but no member of the crew can be blamed for that, and it most certainly does not detract in any way from the great act of bravery and extreme courage displayed by Holden, which undoubtedly prevented a more serious incident.
After arranging for Holden to be taken to hospital for treatment to his badly burned hands, I reported the incident to the Station Commander, Heliopolis and strongly recommended that Holden should be awarded a suitable decoration for his extreme act of selfless Gallantry. As the incident occurred in Egypt, it was left to the Station Commander to submit a recommendation to the Air Ministry through the proper channels, leaving me free to complete the "special flight" to Habbaniya. After visiting Holden in hospital and wishing him well, the Squadron completed it's task, landing at Habbaniya on 26th October 1937, minus, unfortunately,Holden, who was a most efficient W/T Operator, and popular member of the Squadron, and had on that flight and at all times, carried out his duties most efficiently and energetically. He was a very worthy member of the squadron."




CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St. James's Palace. S.W.1,
9th June 1938.
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, to approve of the Award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the under mentioned:-
For Meritorious Service,
516363 Aircraftsman 1st Class Frederick William Holden, Royal Air Force.
Gazetted - London 9th June 1938. Authorized by Air Ministry letter P/A/39/12/9/38 to carry the official letters "E.G.M" (Empire Gallantry Medal).


In about 1940 Frederick William Holden was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the RAF, his number was 45096 and he was posted to 61 Squadron at RAF Station Watton. While he was stationed at RAF Rutland, he married Lottie Evelin Grimes (formerly Pritchett) she was divorced from George Edward Cyrel Grimes, and married Frederick William Holden 1 February 1941. The Operations Record Book for 61 Squadron on 18th April 1941, Reads " Six aircraft of 61 Squadron were detailed for an attack on Cherbourg. One of these aircraft is missing and one crashed near Hingerford, the pilot of which was wounded." An entry in the Air Force War Records of Death 1939 - 1948, reads,
" Name Rank & Unit Age Cty birth Date of death Place

HOLDEN P/O 26 England 18 Apr, 1941 Near Theville -Manche France
Frederick 45096
William 61 Sqn.

Cause of Death = Air Operations

Frederick married Lottie Evelyn Pritchett. (Lottie Evelyn Pritchett was born Private.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Private-Begin, Private.

• Unknown, Private.