Cyril Holland (E Social, 1899-1903) son of
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Cyril Holland
Cyril Holland
For the following article the editor has,
without shame, taken large sections from
two excellent books: Son of Oscar Wilde
by Vyvyan Holland and Constance: The
Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs. Oscar
(E Social, 1899-1903) Wilde by Franny Moyle. There was little
original research apart from the discovery
son of in the University of Glasgow Library,
Oscar Wilde
Department of Special Collections, of the
picture of Cyril Holland in uniform. I
am extremely grateful to Merlin Holland,
grandson of Oscar Wilde, for his help and
for allowing me to use the family pictures
shown on these pages.
••
Cyril Wilde, the first son of Oscar Wilde
and Constance Lloyd was born on 5th
June 1885.
Oscar and Constance had met in the
early summer of 1881 at a tea party
in Devonshire Terrace. They were
immediately attracted to each other and
met regularly at social occasions over the
next few months. But in January 1882
Oscar Wilde left for a lecture tour in
America. What was originally planned as
a three month tour kept Oscar away for a
year. When he did return to London, he
stayed for only a few weeks before he left
for Paris where he intended to complete a
Oscar, Constance and Cyril on holiday near Cromer in 1892
play he had started to write in America.
It was May 1883 before Oscar and I am engaged to Oscar Wilde and perfectly Constance’s brother, Otho, was one of
Constance could renew their friendship and insanely happy. several members of the Lloyd family who
and observers noted the bond between had reservations about Oscar Wilde.
them was becoming strong. Oscar Oscar was captivated by Constance and Oscar’s aesthetic tastes, his clothes and
undertook a short lecture tour of England wrote to his friend, Lillie Langtry: I am his airs and graces had caused him to be
and then boarded a liner for New York going to be married to a beautiful girl called taunted by many of his fellow students
to oversee the rehearsals of his play. Constance Lloyd... a grave, slight, violet- at Magdalen College, Oxford. However,
Although circumstances conspired to eyed Artemis, with great coils of heavy when a number of bloods tried to remove
keep Oscar and Constance apart for long brown hair which make her flower-like the furniture from his room they found
periods of time, they kept in touch by head droop like a flower, and wonderful themselves up against a more determined
frequent letters. By the end of November ivory hands which draw music from the man than they expected who threw them
Constance wrote to her brother: Prepare piano so sweet that birds stop singing to out, single-handed. Oscar had left Oxford
Constance and Cyril Wilde in 1889 yourself for an astounding piece of news! listen to her... as winner of the Newdigate Prize and
8 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 9
Cyril Holland
were far too solemn and pompous with house coming to see how well he had done
their children, insisting on a vast amount of it and to give him a little praise. He also
usually undeserved respect. My own father played with us a great deal in the dining
was quite different; he had so much of the room, which was in some ways more suited
child in his own nature that he delighted to romping than the nursery, as there were
in playing our games. He would go down more chairs and tables and sideboards to
on all fours on the nursery floor, being in dodge through, and more room to clamber
turn a lion, a wolf, a horse, caring nothing over Papa as well.
for his usually immaculate appearance.
And there was nothing half-hearted in his When he grew tired of playing he would
methods of play One day he arrived with keep us quiet by telling us fairy stories, or
a toy milk-cart drawn by a horse with real tales of adventure, of which he had a never-
hair on it. All the harness undid and took ending supply. He was a great admirer of
off, and the churns with which the cart was Jules Verne and Stevenson, and of Kipling
filled could be removed and opened. When in his more imaginative vein. The last
my father discovered this he immediately present he gave me was The Jungle Book; he
went downstairs and came back with a jug had already given me Treasure Island and
of milk with which he proceeded to fill the Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon, which
Cyril in Heidelburg in 1896 churns. We then all tore round the nursery were the first books I read through entirely
About 1902 – Cyril at Radley by the oak that used to grow near the pavilion
table, slopping milk all over the place, until by myself. He told us all his own written
with a double first and hoped to become The Wilde’s second son, Vyvyan, was born the arrival of our nurse put an end to that fairy stories suitably adapted for our young
a poet and a critic. To make his mark in on 3rd November 1886. At about this time, game. minds, and a great many others as well. pull a few lead soldiers out of his pocket to While Bosie was away he attempted to
London he needed to create more publicity a young man called Robbie Ross, lodged There was one about the fairies who lived man the castle walls. mend the rift with Oscar but his letters
for himself and he managed to become the with the Wildes in Tite Street. He was a Like other fathers, he mended our toys; he in the great bottles of coloured water that went unanswered. In 1894 he contacted
personification of aesthetic fashion. He practising homosexual, and it is thought spent most of one afternoon repairing a chemists used to put in their windows, with Over time Oscar spent more and more Constance to beg her to ask Oscar to see
became an expert at self-promotion. he started a physical relationship with wooden fort that had come to pieces in the lights behind them that made them take time away from Tite Street. Oscar enjoyed him. Franny Moyle, in her recent book,
Oscar Wilde. It has been suggested that course of various wars, and when he had on all kinds of different shapes. The fairies holding court over his admiring group writes: Constance in an act of extraordinary
The Lloyd family overcame their misgivings the birth of Vyvyan may have resulted in finished he insisted upon everyone in the came down from their bottles at night and of young men, one of which was Lord kindness and pity and incomparable
and Oscar and Constance were married some post-natal medical difficulties for played and danced and made pills in the Alfred (‘Bosie’) Douglas, son of John stupidity and naivety, encouraged Oscar to
at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens on Constance which caused problems with empty shop. Cyril once asked him why he Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry. travel to Paris to see Lord Alfred Douglas.
29th May 1884. On honeymoon in Paris, her physical relationship with Oscar. had tears in his eyes when he told us the Nellie Melba, the famous opera diva, told
Constance wore clothes to complement story of ‘The Selfish Giant’, and he replied the story of Oscar warning his boys that Oscar travelled to Paris and there were
her husband’s aesthetic dress and, on their Oscar did not consider that his that really beautiful things always made dreadful things happened to naughty boys no communications between Oscar
return to London, the press reported every relationship with Robbie Ross was him cry. who made mothers cry. One of the boys and Constance for some time. Even
detail of their social life. in conflict with his marriage and he responded by asking what happened to when Oscar and Bosie returned to
continued to be a loving husband and ... Perhaps my father was at his best with us naughty fathers, staying out until the early London, Oscar did not inform his wife.
The couple leased a house in Tite Street and father. His son, Vyvyan, recalled: Most at the seaside. He was a powerful swimmer; hours, who made their mother cry far Meanwhile Bosie’s father, the Marquess of
designed the interior with their architect to small boys adore their fathers, and we he also thoroughly enjoyed sailing and more. Queensberry, was starting to make trouble
reflect the latest avant-garde styles. adored ours; and as all good fathers are, he fishing and would take us out with him for Oscar. His disliked ‘effeminacy’ in men
was a hero to us both. He was so tall and when it was not too breezy. I do not think Oscar’s relationship with Bosie Douglas and disapproved of his son’s association
Just over a year after the wedding Cyril was distinguished and, to our uncritical eyes, we took to it very much; personally I was seemed to alter Oscar’s character with the effete Oscar Wilde. On one
born and Oscar wrote to a friend: The baby so handsome. There was nothing about much too concerned for the plight of the and behaviour, and by the spring of occasion an enraged Queensberry arrived
is wonderful. Constance is doing capitally him of the monster that some people who fish flapping about on the floor-boards. I 1893 some of his friends had become at Tite Street to make various accusations
and is in excellent spirits... you must get never knew him and never even saw him preferred helping my father to build sand- disenchanted with him because of his about Oscar and Bosie before being
married at once! Another friend observed have tried to make him out to be. He was castles, an art in which he excelled; long, treatment of Constance. However, when removed from the house. Queenberry
that when Oscar first married: he was a real companion to us, and we always rambling castles they were, with moats and Bosie was abroad for four months after hunted for Oscar and Bosie in their
quite madly in love, and showed himself an looked forward eagerly to his frequent visits tunnels and towers and battlements, and a disagreement with Oscar, the Wilde’s favourite restaurants, hoping to make a
unusually devoted husband. to our nursery. Most parents in those days Cyril aged six when they were finished he would usually marriage enjoyed a resurgence. scene if he discovered them together.
10 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 11
Cyril Holland
At the Old Bailey Queensberry’s legal to join her boys in Switzerland. After a
team produced the names of all the young short time there the manager of the hotel
men with whom Oscar had associated. discovered who they were and, to preserve
Oscar withdrew his libel charge and the the good name of the establishment, asked
judge ruled that Queenberrry was justified them politely to leave.
in calling Wilde a sodomite. Oscar was
arrested that evening and charged with Constance, Cyril and Vyvyan now
various counts of indecency. The following moved to Nervi in Italy, close to one of
day it was reported that his name had Constance’s friends, the Ranee of Sarawak.
been removed from the playbills and Before leaving England Constance had
programmes of his plays at the Haymarket tripped on a stair-carpet and fallen down
and St James’s Theatres. The plays were a flight of stairs injuring her spine and her
withdrawn by early May and his books right hand. She had not recovered from the
were removed from booksellers’ shelves. accident and her health was deteriorating.
Cyril was aware of some of the publicity She looked after her children as best she
relating to the case. Shortly before Cyril could and the boys enjoyed the freedom
Cyril aged 7 at Cromer died he wrote to his brother: I was nine of the surrounding countryside. When
years old when I saw the first placard. You Constance had to return to England to
It was Queensberry’s visit to Oscar’s club, were there too, but you did not see it. It was settle some affairs and to visit Oscar in
the Albemarle, that led to Oscar’s downfall. in Baker Street. I asked what it meant and Wandsworth Prison, the boys were left
Queensberry had visited the club and left I received an evasive answer. I never rested with her brother who lived near Neuchâtel
his calling card on which he had written, until I found out... in Switzerland. Shortly after their
with a misspelling: For Oscar Wilde posing arrival the boys were told their surname
as somdomite. The card had been given to Oscar’s creditors descended on the family. would no longer be Wilde but would
the hall porter and was read by him and, The contents of Tite Street were sold and, be changed to Holland, an old family
possibly, others members of the staff. If in the chaos, many valuable items were name on Constance’s side. The boys had
Oscar ignored it, he would appear to admit stolen. Although Constance had a small practised writing their new names and Middle and Upper Hall at Radley. The lighting had been changed before Cyril came to Radley.
his guilt. Oscar decided to sue for libel. private income her family and friends their possessions were checked to make
came to her financial aid. sure the name Wilde did not appear on prevent him gaining an interest in her On her return from England Constance That night Oscar took the ferry to Dieppe
The pragmatic solution would have been any of them. As a further disguise Vyvyan private income, and a reconciliation decided the boys would be sent to school and assumed the identity of Sebastian
to avoid the scandal and leave the country. Constance had removed the two boys was told to respell his name Vivian. The with him if he renounced his previous in Germany and the family moved to Melmoth. Oscar wrote to Constance inviting
Perhaps Oscar did not wish to travel from their schools when the libel trial had boys were told to forget they were ever unhealthy associations. Oscar wrote to a Heidelberg. The boys had little recent her and the boys to visit him in Dieppe but
abroad when his play, The Importance of started. Cyril had been sent to Ireland born with the name of Wilde and never to friend from Reading Gaol: ...As regards experience of schools and when one of Constance’s health had deteriorated again
Being Earnest, was enjoying such success. while Vyvyan had remained in London. mention it to anyone. my children, I sincerely hope I may be the masters hit Vyvyan on the head with a and she found she could not walk properly.
A factor may have been that the Avondale recognised by the Court as having some ruler, Cyril kicked the teacher in the shins. It was suggested Oscar should come to visit
Hotel, in order to make sure he paid their When Oscar’s trial was about to start at Towards the end of 1895 the Hollands little, I won’t say right, but claim to be The boys were expelled and things did Constance, Cyril and Vyvyan in Italy where
account, had removed Oscar’s luggage as the end of April, a French governess was moved back to Italy and in late December allowed to see Cyril from time to time: it not go any better at their second school they were now living. But when Constance
security. employed who took the boys to a remote Madame Holland entered a private clinic would be to me a sorrow beyond words where Vyvyan and Cyril fought with the received a letter from Oscar, postmarked
resort, Glion, in Switzerland. Meanwhile, run by a gynaecologist, Signor Bossi, if I were not. I do hope the Court will see pupils rather than the masters. By the end Naples, delaying his visit to her by a month,
The case was committed to trial at the Old at the Old Bailey, the jury could not agree in Genoa. Constance hoped that an in me something more than a man with of April 1896 the boys were at Neuenheim she knew he was reunited with Bosie.
Bailey and proceedings began on 3rd April a verdict and a second trial was ordered. operation would improve her mobility a tragic vice in his life. There is so much College, an English school in the outskirts Constance wrote: I have latterly (God forgive
1895. Queensberry had engaged a team When Oscar was given bail his friends and the creeping paralysis in her right more in me, and I always was a good of Heidelberg. Vyvyan was unhappy there me) an absolute repulsion to him.
of private detectives who had discovered once again suggested he should leave the arm and legs. By mid-January, although father to both my children. I love them and in 1897 he was moved to a Catholic
many details of Oscar’s homosexual country but Oscar refused to go. On 25th frail, Constance felt her condition had dearly and was dearly loved by them, school in Monaco. In early April 1898 Constance returned
activities. It was clear to most observers May he was found guilty of committing improved and in late February 1896 she and Cyril was my friend. And it would be to Signor Bossi’s clinic to have another
that Oscar would lose the case but he acts of indecency and was sentenced to travelled back to England to visit Oscar better for them not to be forced to think On 19th May 1897 Oscar Wilde was operation. It is thought the operation
remained oblivious to all the warnings two years’ hard labour. Soon after the who was now in Reading Gaol. Constance of me as an outcast, but to know me as a released from prison. Constance sent may have been on her spine to release the
given by his friends. sentence was announced Constance left was torn between divorcing Oscar to man who has suffered. money to cover his immediate expenses. pressure on the nerves that was causing
12 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 13
Cyril Holland
eyes a boy educated at a Jesuit school was, There was to be no cry of decadent artist,
to all intents and purposes, a Jesuit himself, of effeminate aesthete, of weak-kneed
and there was no knowing what he might degenerate. That is the first step. For that I
say or do next. And my two years in an have laboured; for that I have toiled. As I
Italian school were, from their point of view, roughed it month after month last year in
bound to have affected me adversely. the terrible plateau of Tibet, as I trekked
hour after hour, day after day, but lately,
One of the reasons given for estranging my over difficult country in dangerous times,
brother from me was that we did not get on when I was weary and ill with dysentery
well together. But we surely did not quarrel and alone in a strange and barbarous land,
more than most brothers; and if our mother it was this Purpose which whispered in my
had been alive we would always have spent ear: “It is the cause, my soul, it is the cause.”
our holidays together. And although my Many years ago, I laid to heart the awful
brother and I hardly ever met after we had truth we hear in Hamlet
been sent to our different schools, the family
could not prevent us from writing to each “Purpose is but the slave to memory
other. We corresponded regularly and were Of violent birth, but poor validity.”
always scheming to get together again.
1st VIII 1902 – Cyril Holland is in the back row next to the coach, H.M. Evans This has been my purpose for sixteen Radley 1st VIII 1902 – Cyril Holland at stroke
Poor Cyril! He had a much more tragic years. It is so still. I have often fallen away.
her increasing paralysis. Constance’s The following year Oscar visited her grave youth than I had. My own youth was filled I have despaired, I have cursed my fate April 1900 bow in Junior Trial Eights; One of Cyril’s greatest Radley triumphs
brother suggested that she may have had and wrote to Robbie Ross; It was very with perplexity; his with the weight of and mocked at the false gods. It is my May 1900 bow at 9st 8lbs in winning was when, now 10st 10 lbs, he stroked the
tumours. The result of the operation was tragic seeing her name carved on a tomb – knowledge which he was too young to bear. purpose still. I am no wild, passionate, Junior Trial Eight; Radley eight at Henley in 1902.
that Constance died a few days later before her surname, my name not mentioned of From the moment that he discovered the irresponsible hero. I live by thought, not July 1900 rowed at 5 in the 3rd VIII; Ladies’ Challenge Plate. Heat 1: Radley v
her brother or her friend, the Ranee of course – just Constance Mary, daughter of implication of the placard which he saw in by emotion. I ask nothing better than to July 1900 rowed at 3 in his Social Four (9st Jesus College, Cambridge. Reports of the
Sarawak, could reach her bedside. Horace Lloyd QC. I brought some flowers. I Baker Street, he began to form a resolution end in honourable battle for my King and 8lbs); races stated: Radley rowed 21 strokes in half
was deeply affected – with a sense also of the which consolidated itself as the years Country. April 1901 rowed at 7 (9st 8lbs) in the a minute, and 39 in the full one, Jesus taking
Just before Constance entered the clinic she uselessness of all regrets. Nothing could have proceeded. He hinted at it to me on several winning Scratch Eight; 19 and 36. The boys led at once, and were
wrote to Vyvyan: Try not to be hard on your been otherwise and life is a terrible thing. occasions, but it was not until June 1914 July 1901 rowed at 5 in 3rd VIII; half-a-length ahead at the upper end of the
father. Remember that he is your father and when he was twenty-nine, that he wrote to A.K. Boyd’s History of Radley states: The July 1901 stroked (10st 2lbs) his Social Island, and nearly as much at the half-mile.
he loves you. All his troubles arose from the After the school terms finished in the me from India in reply to a letter of mine year 1899 brought a remarkable example of Four; Then Jesus drew up, and were but their
hatred of a son for his father, and whatever summer of 1898, the boys returned to about the years of our childhood: [Warden] Field’s personal tolerance when October 1901 recruited to Debating canvas behind at Fawley Court Boathouse,
he has done he has suffered bitterly for. England to be brought up by Constance’s he admitted to the School Cyril Holland, Society; reached by Radley in 3min. 36secs. It
Aunt, Mary Napier and Mary’s daughter, When I returned to England in 1898, I son of Oscar Wilde; he had formed no very October 1901 stroked (10st 4½lbs) continued to be a very hard race, Radley
Constance was buried in the Campo Santo Lizzie. Vyvyan was sent to Hodder Place, naturally realised our position more fully. favourable estimate of Wilde at Magdalen, winning Senior Four; just holding the advantage, obtaining
cemetery outside Genoa. The inscription the prep school attached to Stonyhurst, and Gradually, I became obsessed with the idea and this was only four years after the trial March 1902 won Senior Mile in 5mins 7 much shelter from the Bucks station. They
made no mention of her association with Cyril to Radley with a view to going into that I must retrieve what had been lost. and imprisonment. The entry was accepted 3.5 secs; rowed well, and above Bushey Gate began
Oscar Wilde. It simply said: Constance the army. By 1900, it had become my settled object under promise of secrecy, and the secret was May 1902 School Prefect (Head of Social) to go away, leading by half-a-length at the
Mary, daughter of Horace Lloyd QC. in life. I told Ross of this years ago. I told well kept. Sadly there are no documents May 1902 stroked winning Trial Eight; Leander Club. Jesus were done with there,
Vyvyan from Son of Oscar Wilde: From that him that by his magnificent labours and in existence to confirm that Warden Field Stroke (10st 12½lbs) of 1st VIII; and Radley drew clear at the end of Phyllis
The boys did not attend their mother’s time onwards I saw very little of him. The self-sacrifice he had almost accomplished knew that Cyril was Oscar Wilde’s son. Boxing – Heavy Weight – C. Holland Court, and, rowing hard to the finish, won
funeral – the news was given to them at family did their work of keeping us apart my end. But he cannot do all. All these (10st 9lbs) beat E Thomas 11st 7lbs “pretty by a length, in 7 min. 37 sec.
their respective schools, Cyril in Germany very efficiently, and used our religions as years my great incentive has been to wipe The Radleian Magazine records some of easily” and then Henderson “very easily”; Heat 4: Radley v University College,
and Vyvyan in Monaco. Many years later a pretext. There was no acceptable reason that stain away; to retrieve, if may be, by Cyril’s achievements at Radley: July 1902 Swimming – C Holland won Oxford
Vyvyan wrote: My grief for my mother was for this, particularly as I spent most of some action of mine, a name no longer July 1899 rowed at bow (8st 2lb) in his Senior Long Race and Obstacle Race; At 4.45 the Radley crew came out against
very genuine and deep. I worshipped her, my holidays boarded out with Protestant honoured in the land. The more I thought Social Four; Feb 1903 Sports – won Senior Half in 2 University College, who are Head of the
and all the weight of the world seemed to families. I think my relatives were a little of this, the more convinced I became October 1899 still at bow (8st 7lb); mins 19 secs; Won Senior Mile in 5 mins River at Oxford, and had also entered for
descend upon me after her death. frightened of seeing too much of me; in their that, first and foremost, I must be a man. April 1900 came 2nd in Junior Cricket Ball; 9secs. the Grand. The boys started with plenty of
14 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 15
Cyril Holland
From Son of Oscar Wilde: No letters went up to London to see Mrs. Napier and
passed between my brother and myself came back on Sunday afternoon.
on my father’s death. It was as though the
revelation of his continued existence was to I first read of his death in a paper at
remain a secret even between ourselves... breakfast and luckily one cannot realise so
great a loss in cold print or I don’t know
At this time Robert Ross wrote a letter to us, what I should have done.... And yet the
care of the family solicitors. The letter was ordinary person reads it without emotion
sent to my brother to answer, and I never and quite dispassionately.
saw it myself; indeed I never heard about
it until after my brother’s death, when Ross I cannot put my thoughts into words, so I
showed me Cyril’s reply and gave me a copy will end.
of it. It must be remembered that my brother
was only fifteen and a half at the time, and Yours very affectionately,
had over five years of bitterness behind him. Cyril Holland
His letter ran as follows:
...People who knew my brother at Radley,
Dear Mr. Ross, such as Nicholas Hannen and Louis
Warden Field and the School Prefects in 1902 – Cyril Holland is in the front row on the right Wilkinson [who, while at Radley, had Cyril winning a race at Woolwich, probably in the match against Sandhurst in 1905
Thank you so much for the kind letter you engaged in correspondence with Oscar
dash and a slight bucket, and took the lead swing, and finish, especially the latter, are sent me. It was very kind of you to give Wilde], assure me that none of the boys in Vyvyan Holland wrote: He was not news that his own Field Artillery brigade
for the first few strokes, but the bigger crew quite remarkable in a boy: his work has the flowers for us. I am glad you say that the school had the slightest inkling of his popular with his brother officers, who was to remain behind for the defence of
got level at the Island, each rowing about much improved. He is certainly for his age he loved us. I hope that at his death he parentage. Indeed, it was this perpetual considered him pompous and intolerant. India against possible aggression. At that
thirty-six. Soon after the ‘Head of the River’ the most promising oar we have had since was truly penitent; I think he must have sailing under false colours that militated He would not join the small talk of the time no one thought that with modern
began to swing out and put their weight on, the days of Stretch, and we believe that had been if he joined the Catholic Church and against both my brother and myself ever mess, mostly scandal or about sport. And weapons a war could last more than three
and slowly went away from their plucky he stayed, and gone to Oxford, he would my reverence for the Roman Church is forming any great school friendship. School they could not understand anyone who or four months, so this looked like no war at
young opponents as Remenham was reached. have had a very fair chance of rivalling heightened more than ever. It is hard for a friendships depend so essentially on their spent his ordinary leave in travelling about all for those left, even temporarily, behind.
From there to the finish the boys rowed one of the reputation of that excellent and much young mind like mine to realise why all the participants having no secrets whatever Europe, studying architecture and visiting My brother, pulling every string upon which
the gamest stern races that courageous little lamented oarsman. sorrow should have come on us, especially from each other. art galleries instead of hunting, shooting, he could lay his hands, arranged for a
school has ever put up, and the greatest credit so young. And I am here among many yachting, or fishing. He adopted a pose of transfer from the Field Artillery to a cavalry
is due to their stroke for keeping it up so long Long before his triumph at Henley, on 1st happy faces among boys who have never Cyril left Radley at the end of the Lent despising athletics, except as a means to regiment in India which was going to
as he did and finishing it out so well. ...The December 1900, Cyril, aged almost 15½, really known an hour of sorrow and I have Term 1903 and went to the Royal Military keep fit, and yet with his athletic record France to fight. This would have meant the
spurt made just past the clubs and again at had gone to breakfast as usual in Hall, at to keep my sorrow to myself and have no Academy at Woolwich. In 1905 he won there could be no accusation of sour grapes. sacrifice of his whole nine years’ seniority,
Phyllis Court was a really splendid effort, that time on the ground-floor rooms of the one here to sympathise with me although the mile and the two miles in their match And he was always getting special leave on as he would have had to take his place
which might have borne greater fruit had Mansion. Here he saw the announcement I am sure my many friends would soon do against Sandhurst and was commissioned “military duties,” which sometimes caused as junior subaltern in his new regiment.
the lighter crew had choice of stations and a of his father’s death in the newspapers and so if they knew. But when I am solemn and into the Royal Field Artillery. He served in him to disappear for weeks at a time. I This in itself shows in what direction his
calm day. It was pretty generally agreed that heard it discussed by the older boys. do not join so much in their jokes they stir the United Kingdom until he was posted gathered some idea of the nature of these thoughts lay. In the end, plans were changed
the young Radley stroke had rowed one of the me up and chide me for my gloominess. to India where he served from September duties from the fact that he spoke German and all the regular soldiers in India went to
best races of the day and showed a judgment If Warden Field did know that Cyril’s 1911 until August 1914. like a native, was an efficient draughtsman France to be replaced by Territorials from
far beyond his years, in which the pluck of his father was Oscar Wilde, it is strange It is of course a long time since I saw father and sometimes grew a beard. England. So my brother arrived in France
crew gallantly backed him up. that he did not send for him to tell him but all I do remember was when we lived He did not forget Radley and presented a with the Meerut Division in 1914 and was
the news. The Rector of Stonyhurst told happily together in London and how he cup for Social Runs in 1903. Cyril stroked While he was in India Cyril, on leave, killed on May 9th, 1915, in what amounted
His coach, H.M. Evans, wrote: We expected Vyvyan, although Vyvyan had thought that would come and build brick houses for us an Old Radleian Four at Marlow Regatta managed to find time to trek four hundred to a duel with a German sniper.
a great deal of stroke, and we can give him his father had died long before. Perhaps in the nursery. and later, with another OR, wrote to the miles to Tibet and also to visit China and
no higher praise than to say, that he more the news of Oscar’s death arrived in the Radleian proposing the formation of an Japan. Vyvyan was serving in the same regiment
than fulfilled our expectations. He is apt to newspapers on Warden Field’s breakfast I only hope that it will be a lesson for me Old Radleian Boat Club. It was many years as his brother and was only a few miles
lie back at times, and occasionally to rush table at the same time as it arrived on and prevent me from falling into the snares before the club came into being but Cyril Vyvyan Holland: Towards the end of away when he heard of Cyril’s death.
forward when rowing fast; but his length, Cyril’s. and pitfalls of this world. On Saturday I had played a part in its evolution. August 1914 Cyril received the shattering
16 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 17
Cyril Holland
University of Glasgow Library, Department of Special Collections
Cyril Holland in a letter to his brother: ‘I ask nothing better than to end in honourable battle for my King and Country’
Above: Cyril Holland’s grave at the St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l’Avoué
Footnote: another C. Holland of the Royal Son of Oscar Wilde Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous
Field Artillery, Lieutenant Charles T. Merlin Holland (Foreword), Life of Mrs. Oscar Wilde
Trevenan Holland, was killed on the same Vyvyan Holland (Author) Franny Moyle (Author)
day as Cyril Holland, 9th May 1915. Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks (Dec. 1988) Publisher: John Murray (June 2011)
Cyril Holland, probably taken soon after
ISBN-10: 0192821970 ISBN-10: 1848541627
he had joined the Royal Field Artillery
ISBN-13: 978-0192821973 ISBN-13: 978-1848541627
18 the old radleian 2011 the old radleian 2011 19
You can also read
