HOLT-WILSON, ERIC EDWARD BOKETON,
Lieutenant, was born 26 August 1875, eldest son of Reverend Thomas
Holt-Wilson, of Redgrave, Suffolk, and Helen Emily, daughter of Sir E Walter
Greene, Baronet, MP, of Nether Hall, Suffolk. He was educated at Harrow and
Woolwich (Cricket Eleven; Football Eleven; Champion Revolver shot), and
received his commission 3 August 1895 in the Royal Engineers. He served in
the South African War, 1899 to 1902, being present in the advance on
Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and
Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900,
including operations at Paardeberg; actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein,
Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet, River and Zand River; operations in the
Transvaal, May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and
Pretoria; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to November
1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including action at
Zilikat's Nek; operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape
Colony, 1900-2. For his services he was mentioned in Despatches twice
[London Gazette, 8 February and 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's
Medal with five clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27
September 1901]: "Eric Edward Boketon Wilson, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers.
In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was
invested by the King 17 December 1901. He was an instructor at the School
of Military Engineering from 1903 to 1906, becoming Captain in 1903; Commander of Field and Fortress
Engineer Companies, 1907 to 1909, and Cadet Company Commander and Instructor
in Military Engineering at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, 1909 to
1912, and retired to the Reserve of Officers, Royal Engineers, 21 December
1912, in which he became Major 30 October 1914. He joined the War Office
Intelligence Department in 1912, and served with distinction in the European
War (1914-19) on Special Intelligence Service in France, Egypt and Salonika,
finally becoming Chief of the Police Commission in British Occupied
Rhineland in 1919. He was given the Brevets of Major and Lieutenant
Colonel; was mentioned in Despatches; created a CMG in 1919, and awarded the
Legion of Honour. He is the author of 'Field Entrenchments, 1914'.
Lieutenant Colonel Holt-Wilson married, in 1903, Susannah Mary Shaw, and
they had two sons and one daughter.
