Cyril Holland
Encyclopedia
Cyril Holland was the first son of Oscar Wilde
and Constance Lloyd
and brother to Vyvyan Holland
.
From Vyvyan’s accounts in his autobiography, Son of Oscar Wilde, Oscar was a devoted and loving father to his two sons and their childhood was a relatively happy one. Nevertheless, after Oscar’s infamous downfall, Constance chose to take on the surname Holland for both the boys and herself (the Holland name having been part of her own family heritage). She took the boys to Switzerland
and then enrolled them in an English speaking school in Germany
. Vyvyan was unhappy there. Because of this and to improve security, Vyvyan was moved to a Jesuit school in Monaco
and subsequently attended Stonyhurst College
also run by the Jesuits. However, Cyril remained at the school in Germany. After Constance’s death in 1898, her relatives sought legal counsel to prevent Oscar Wilde from seeing his children again.
From 1899 – 1903, Holland attended Radley College
. After leaving school he became a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant
, Royal Field Artillery
, on 20 December, 1905. He was promoted to Lieutenant
on 20 December 1908, and served in the UK until he was posted to India
, where he served from September 1911 until 1914, with No. 9 Ammunition Column, RFA at Secunderabad
, India in August 1914. He was promoted to Captain, on 30 October 1914.
When World War I
broke out, he was posted back to Europe and took part in the battle for Neuve-Chapelle
, where he was killed by a German sniper on May 9, 1915 during the Battle of Festubert
. He is buried at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l'Avoué
.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
and Constance Lloyd
Constance Lloyd
Constance Wilde , born Constance Mary Lloyd, was the wife of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde and the mother of his two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan. The daughter of Horace Lloyd, an Irish barrister, and Adelaide Atkinson Lloyd, she married Wilde on May 29, 1884, and had both her sons within the next two years...
and brother to Vyvyan Holland
Vyvyan Holland
Vyvyan Holland, OBE , born Vyvyan Oscar Beresford Wilde in London, was a British author and translator. He was the second son of Oscar Wilde and Constance Lloyd, after his brother Cyril.-Biography:...
.
From Vyvyan’s accounts in his autobiography, Son of Oscar Wilde, Oscar was a devoted and loving father to his two sons and their childhood was a relatively happy one. Nevertheless, after Oscar’s infamous downfall, Constance chose to take on the surname Holland for both the boys and herself (the Holland name having been part of her own family heritage). She took the boys to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and then enrolled them in an English speaking school in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Vyvyan was unhappy there. Because of this and to improve security, Vyvyan was moved to a Jesuit school in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and subsequently attended Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
also run by the Jesuits. However, Cyril remained at the school in Germany. After Constance’s death in 1898, her relatives sought legal counsel to prevent Oscar Wilde from seeing his children again.
From 1899 – 1903, Holland attended Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
. After leaving school he became a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
, on 20 December, 1905. He was promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 20 December 1908, and served in the UK until he was posted to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he served from September 1911 until 1914, with No. 9 Ammunition Column, RFA at Secunderabad
Secunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
, India in August 1914. He was promoted to Captain, on 30 October 1914.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, he was posted back to Europe and took part in the battle for Neuve-Chapelle
Neuve-Chapelle
Neuve-Chapelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Neuve-Chapelle is situated some northeast of Béthune and southwest of Lille, near the junction of the D947 and D171 roads.-History:...
, where he was killed by a German sniper on May 9, 1915 during the Battle of Festubert
Battle of Festubert
The Battle of Festubert was an attack by the British army in the Artois region of France on the western front during World War I. It began on May 15, 1915 and continued until May 25.-Context:...
. He is buried at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l'Avoué
Richebourg-l'Avoué
Richebourg-l'Avoué is a village and former commune in the Pas-de-Calais region of France. It was merged with Richebourg-Saint-Vaast to form the commune of Richebourg on 21 February 1971.-World War One:...
.