Charles Holloway
location: Great War Huts, Brook Farm Camp, Bells Lane, Hawstead, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP29 5NW
Details on cross (Text content of cross):
GRU
PTE. C. HOLLOWAY. 73868
4TH. ROYAL FUS.
14TH DECEMBER. 1918
47-D-18 (Charles died of bronchio-pneumonia and is buried at Etaples).
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU Tags
(Great War Huts Team with Charles Holloway’s Cross)
Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 1125mm
Cross beam width: 400mm
Width of wood: 65mm
Thickness or depth: 20mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Mounted in a contemporary glazed wooden frame with single suspension loop. The frame is 1240mm long x 505mm wide x 50mm deep. It is glazed with three separate pieces of glass and the Cross sits on a backing of black felt.
Detailing: Cut edges have a 5mm chamfer.
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Evidence of all these and a small piece missing from the tip. The original point was 140mm long, tapering to a 50mm wide point.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): Hard to say but at least 150mm.
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Unfinished but tags polished before framing.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Dry but sound. One splinter missing from the shaft but damaged before framing. White painted mark half way up shaft.
Notes and observations: (optional)
This framed Grave Marker had been in the loft of a former Policeman since the 1970s. He was a collector of medals and militaria and, on his death, the marker was rediscovered when the family were clearing his house. The family don’t know how he came to own the marker although his beat did include Hounslow where Charles Holloway lived so it may have come directly from the Holloway family.
The Marker was donated to Great War Huts for display, by the family, on Sunday 9th December 2018 at the suggestion of Tim Godden and Nick Stone of The Returned Project.
We believe this could be a ‘cased’ Toc H example, althoughthis is almost impossible to ascertain, it is entirely possible the family had the case made for the cross. – Nick
From CWGC.
Private HOLLOWAY, CHARLES WILLIAM
Service Number 73868
Died 14/12/1918
Aged 18
4th Bn.
Royal Fusiliers
Son of Harry and Elizabeth Holloway, of 113, Myrtle Rd., Hounslow, Middx.
Inscription
“IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR CHARLIE WHO NOBLY GAVE HIS LIFE R.I.P.”
Survey courtesy of Taff Gillingham, Great War Huts. Photographs courtesy of Lyndsay Knight. Date of survey: 13th December 2018.