Difference between revisions of "Eric Holt-Wilson"
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|image=Eric Holt-Wilson.jpg | |image=Eric Holt-Wilson.jpg | ||
| − | |wikipedia= | + | |birth_date=26 August 1875 |
| + | |death_date=26 March 1950 | ||
| + | |nationality=UK | ||
| + | |description=Draft The Defence of the Realm Act in 1914, later head of [[MI5]] | ||
| + | |alma_mater=Harrow School, Woolwich Royal Military Academy | ||
| + | |wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Edward_Boketon_Holt-Wilson | ||
|spartacus=http://spartacus-educational.com/SSholtW.htm | |spartacus=http://spartacus-educational.com/SSholtW.htm | ||
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| − | == | + | [[Brigadier]] '''Sir Eric Edward Boketon Holt-Wilson''' was a [[British Army]] officer who left the army to join the nascent British Security Service ([[MI5]]), which developed in time to deal with espionage during [[World War I]]. He became the Service's deputy to Sir [[Vernon Kell]], serving through to the beginning of [[World War II]]. |
| − | + | ||
| + | ==Family life== | ||
| + | Born in [[Norwich]], [[Norfolk]], in 1875, Holt-Wilson was the son of Reverend Thomas Holt-Wilson and his wife Helen Emily Greene, daughter of [[Edward Greene (MP)|Edward Greene]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=uOHHuwI8tD4C&pg=PA459</ref> He was educated at [[Harrow School]] from 1887 to 1892.<ref>https://archive.lib.cam.ac.uk/index.php/holt-wilson-sir-eric-edward-boketon-1875-1950-knight-brigadier-deputy-director-of-mi5;isaar?sf_culture=en </ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | He was married twice, firstly to Susannah Mary Shaw in 1903 and secondly Audrey Stirling in 1931.<ref>http://www.thepeerage.com/p52940.htm </ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Military service== | ||
| + | Holt-Wilson took a commission in the [[Royal Engineers]] and then attended the [[Royal Military Academy, Woolwich]] (1893-95). On being commissioned after his time at Woolwich he joined 7 Field Regiment, Royal Engineers and was posted to South Africa 1899-1902. On returning from overseas service he became an instructor at the School of Military Engineering, 1903-1906. This was followed by a tour of duty as Cadet Company Commander and Instructor in Military Engineering back at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, 1909-1912;<ref>https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn30/9063/90639377.30.jpg </ref> this was his last military posting before joining the Imperial Security Intelligence Service.<ref>http://www.kingscollections.org/catalogues/lhcma/collection/h/ho55-001</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | His war service in [[South Africa]] was excellent and he was mentioned in despatches twice in 8 February and 10 September 1901. He received the [[Queen's South Africa Medal]] with five clasps and the [[King's South Africa Medal]] with two clasps;<ref>https://angloboerwar.com/index.php/medals-and-awards/british/1884-distinguished-service-order?option=com_grid&gid=22_uw_0&p=24 </ref> and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 27 September 1901: "In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa."<ref>http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page243.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Intelligence service== | ||
| + | Rising public fears in Great Britain of German espionage precipitated the creation of a new government intelligence agency formed by Vernon Kell in 1909.<ref>Christopher Andrew, ''The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of Mi5'' (London, 2009), p.21.</ref> In 1912 Holt-Wilson went to work for [[Vernon Kell]], then the Director of what was termed the Home Section of the [[Secret Service Bureau]] with responsibility for investigating [[espionage]], [[sabotage]] and [[subversion]] in [[Britain]].<ref>https://spartacus-educational.com/SSholtW.htm</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Holt-Wilson joined forces with [[Vernon Kell]] and [[Basil Thomson]] to draft The [[Defence of the Realm Act]] (DORA). This was an attempt "to prevent persons communicating with the enemy or obtaining information for that purpose or any purpose calculated to jeopardise the success of the operations of His Majesty's Forces or to assist the enemy." This legislation gave the government executive powers to suppress published criticism, imprison without trial and to commandeer economic resources for the war effort. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Holt-Wilson served on the [[Imperial General Staff]] from 1914 to 1924.<ref>Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1929–30). Armorial Families. 2 (7th ed.). London: Hurst & Blackett. p. 2017.</ref> He remained a loyal and dedicated deputy to Kell and was sacked along with his director by [[Winston Churchill]] in 1940.<ref>Northcott, Chris (19 June 2015). MI5 at War 1909-1918: How MI5 Foiled the Spies of the Kaiser in the First World War. Tattered Flag. </ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Honours== | ||
| + | Holt-Wilson was awarded the following orders and decorations: | ||
| + | *Was made a [[Knight Bachelor]] (Kt) in the [[1933 Birthday Honours]] | ||
| + | *[[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (CMG) | ||
| + | *[[Distinguished Service Order]] | ||
| + | *[[Legion of Honour]] | ||
| + | *Officer of [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown of Belgium]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
{{SMWDocs}} | {{SMWDocs}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 02:23, 22 May 2021
 Eric Holt-Wilson     (soldier, spook) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 26 August 1875 |
| Died | 26 March 1950 (Age 74) |
| Nationality | UK |
| Alma mater | Harrow School, Woolwich Royal Military Academy |
Brigadier Sir Eric Edward Boketon Holt-Wilson was a British Army officer who left the army to join the nascent British Security Service (MI5), which developed in time to deal with espionage during World War I. He became the Service's deputy to Sir Vernon Kell, serving through to the beginning of World War II.
Family life
Born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1875, Holt-Wilson was the son of Reverend Thomas Holt-Wilson and his wife Helen Emily Greene, daughter of Edward Greene.[1] He was educated at Harrow School from 1887 to 1892.[2]
He was married twice, firstly to Susannah Mary Shaw in 1903 and secondly Audrey Stirling in 1931.[3]
Military service
Holt-Wilson took a commission in the Royal Engineers and then attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (1893-95). On being commissioned after his time at Woolwich he joined 7 Field Regiment, Royal Engineers and was posted to South Africa 1899-1902. On returning from overseas service he became an instructor at the School of Military Engineering, 1903-1906. This was followed by a tour of duty as Cadet Company Commander and Instructor in Military Engineering back at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, 1909-1912;[4] this was his last military posting before joining the Imperial Security Intelligence Service.[5]
His war service in South Africa was excellent and he was mentioned in despatches twice in 8 February and 10 September 1901. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps and the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps;[6] and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 27 September 1901: "In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa."[7]
Intelligence service
Rising public fears in Great Britain of German espionage precipitated the creation of a new government intelligence agency formed by Vernon Kell in 1909.[8] In 1912 Holt-Wilson went to work for Vernon Kell, then the Director of what was termed the Home Section of the Secret Service Bureau with responsibility for investigating espionage, sabotage and subversion in Britain.[9]
On the outbreak of the First World War Holt-Wilson joined forces with Vernon Kell and Basil Thomson to draft The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). This was an attempt "to prevent persons communicating with the enemy or obtaining information for that purpose or any purpose calculated to jeopardise the success of the operations of His Majesty's Forces or to assist the enemy." This legislation gave the government executive powers to suppress published criticism, imprison without trial and to commandeer economic resources for the war effort.
Holt-Wilson served on the Imperial General Staff from 1914 to 1924.[10] He remained a loyal and dedicated deputy to Kell and was sacked along with his director by Winston Churchill in 1940.[11]
Honours
Holt-Wilson was awarded the following orders and decorations:
- Was made a Knight Bachelor (Kt) in the 1933 Birthday Honours
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
- Distinguished Service Order
- Legion of Honour
- Officer of Order of the Crown of Belgium
References
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=uOHHuwI8tD4C&pg=PA459
- ↑ https://archive.lib.cam.ac.uk/index.php/holt-wilson-sir-eric-edward-boketon-1875-1950-knight-brigadier-deputy-director-of-mi5;isaar?sf_culture=en
- ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p52940.htm
- ↑ https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn30/9063/90639377.30.jpg
- ↑ http://www.kingscollections.org/catalogues/lhcma/collection/h/ho55-001
- ↑ https://angloboerwar.com/index.php/medals-and-awards/british/1884-distinguished-service-order?option=com_grid&gid=22_uw_0&p=24
- ↑ http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Biographical/library/The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page243.html
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of Mi5 (London, 2009), p.21.
- ↑ https://spartacus-educational.com/SSholtW.htm
- ↑ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1929–30). Armorial Families. 2 (7th ed.). London: Hurst & Blackett. p. 2017.
- ↑ Northcott, Chris (19 June 2015). MI5 at War 1909-1918: How MI5 Foiled the Spies of the Kaiser in the First World War. Tattered Flag.
