Vivian Hollowday
Encyclopedia
Corporal Vivian Hollowday (born 13 October 1916 in Ulceby
, Lincolnshire
, died 15 April 1977, in Bedford
, Bedfordshire
) was a British
recipient of the George Cross
, the highest British
(and Commonwealth
) medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy. He was the first member of the RAF to receive this honour.
, a public school in North Nottinghamshire before joining the Royal Air Force
at the start of World War II
, in September 1939. He was a member of 14 Flying Training School, and of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
. He was cremated and buried at Bedford Cemetery and Crematorium, Renhold
, Bedfordshire
, England.
Along with the George Cross, Hollowday was the recipient of the 1939–45 Star, Africa Star
, Italy Star
, France and Germany Star
, the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939–1945
, and was Mentioned in Dispatches
.
Hollowday was awarded the George Cross for the "amazing courage and initiative" he showed in two attempted rescues of crashed RAF personnel, while based at RAF Cranfield. The date of the second attempt was 27 August 1940. The following citation was printed in the London Gazette
of 21 January 1941.
The pilot in the July crash was the only occupant of the plane. He was 754516 Sgt (pilot) Noel Francis Lloyd Davies and was 20 years old. He was buried in a private grave in his hometown of Cleethorpes.
Ulceby, North Lincolnshire
Ulceby is a village, civil parish and Post town of North Lincolnshire in EnglandUlceby is situated on the eastern side of North Lincolnshire roughly equidistant to Grimsby and Scunthorpe. Ulceby is a rural village surrounded by fields, forests, farms and nearby villages such as Kirmington, Wootton...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, died 15 April 1977, in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
recipient of the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, the highest British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
) medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy. He was the first member of the RAF to receive this honour.
Biography
Hollowday attended Worksop CollegeWorksop College
Worksop College is a co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 13 to 18 in England. Worksop is split into eight houses - Talbot, Mason, Portland, Pelham and Shirley for boys and Gibbs, Derry and School House for girls.- Origins :...
, a public school in North Nottinghamshire before joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in September 1939. He was a member of 14 Flying Training School, and of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
. He was cremated and buried at Bedford Cemetery and Crematorium, Renhold
Renhold
Renhold is a village and civil parish located on the river Ouse, in the hundred of Barford, in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is just to the north of Bedford...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England.
Along with the George Cross, Hollowday was the recipient of the 1939–45 Star, Africa Star
Africa Star
The Africa Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the Second World War.The Star was awarded for a minimum of one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943...
, Italy Star
Italy Star
The Italy Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and Dodecanese Islands, and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945...
, France and Germany Star
France and Germany Star
The France and Germany Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945...
, the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939–1945
War Medal 1939–1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
, and was Mentioned in Dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
.
George Cross
Then Aircraftman First ClassAircraftman
Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman , is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries....
Hollowday was awarded the George Cross for the "amazing courage and initiative" he showed in two attempted rescues of crashed RAF personnel, while based at RAF Cranfield. The date of the second attempt was 27 August 1940. The following citation was printed in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 21 January 1941.
The pilot in the July crash was the only occupant of the plane. He was 754516 Sgt (pilot) Noel Francis Lloyd Davies and was 20 years old. He was buried in a private grave in his hometown of Cleethorpes.