The Exceptional Great War Military Operations, C.B., C.M.G., Unique Boer War C.I.E., Indian Marine Chin-Lushai Operations D.S.O. Group of Eleven to Commander G.E. Holland, Royal Indian Marine, Captain of the Ill-Fated "Warren Hastings" and Latterly a Brigadier-General in the Royal Engineers

Details
The Exceptional Great War Military Operations, C.B., C.M.G., Unique Boer War C.I.E., Indian Marine Chin-Lushai Operations D.S.O. Group of Eleven to Commander G.E. Holland, Royal Indian Marine, Captain of the Ill-Fated "Warren Hastings" and Latterly a Brigadier-General in the Royal Engineers

(a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.), Military Division, neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel
(b) The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion's (C.M.G.), breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with usual swivel-ring suspension and riband buckle
(c) The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion's (C.I.E.), breast Badge, gold and enamel, complete with upper suspension brooch
(d) Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel
(e) India General Service 1854-95, three clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89, Chin Lushai 1889-90 (1st Gde. Officer, H.M. I.M.S.)
(f) Queen's South Africa, one clasp, Natal (Commdr., Rl. Ind. Mar.)
(g) 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., C.I.E., D.S.O., R.E.)
(h) British War and Victory Medals (Brig. Gen.), officially re-impressed
(i) Belgium, Order of Leopold I, Military Division, Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel
(j) Belgium, Croix de Guerre
(k) Italy, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight's breast Badge, gold and enamel, enamel work chipped in places, otherwise generally good very fine (11)

Lot Essay

C.B. London Gazette 4.6.1917

C.M.G. London Gazette 14.1.1916

C.I.E. London Gazette 25.7.1901

D.S.O. London Gazette 14.11.1890 'In recognition of services during the late Chin-Lushai Expedition.'

Brigadier-General Gerald Edward Holland, C.B., C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O., served on the Naval Transport Staff at Durban 1899-1900, while a Commander in the Royal Indian Marine. His appointment as the Disembarkation Officer during the heady days of the arrival of first White's and then Buller's force was rewarded with three Mentions and a unique Boer War award of the C.I.E. Holland was also responsible for the preparation of the Hospital Ships.

White mentioned him in his Despatch dated 2.11.1899 and Buller twice recording in his of 30.3.1900:

'Commander G.E. Holland, D.S.O., Indian Marine, has also been employed at Durban throughout. His genius for organisation, and his knowledge of transport requirements is, I should say, unrivalled. He undertook the alteration of the transports which were fitted at Durban as hospital ships, and the result of his work has been universally admitted to have been a conspicuous success. I strongly recommend him to your consideration' (London Gazette 8.2.1901 refers).

Holland had been created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for the Chin-Lushai Expedition but was probably better known as the Captain of the ill-fated Warren Hastings (see below). He was Court-Martialled for her loss but received only a simple reprimand and this simultaneously with receiving a commendatory order containing warm praise issued by the Viceroy and Governor-General in Council of India for his fine conduct and saving of life.

At the outbreak of the Great War, Holland (who had retired from the Royal Indian Marine in 1905) became a Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Engineers and Assistant Director of Inland Water Transport. He was appointed its Director in 1916, a Brigadier-General in 1917, created a Companion of the Order of the Bath and the Order of St. Michael and St. George, two Foreign Orders and Mentioned in Despatches thrice. He died of sickness contracted in France while on leave in England in 1917.