British Heritage
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Norman Douglas Holbrook
A Pillar of British Heritage.
The impact of an individual on their nation's heritage is often a summation of their achievements, personal values, and how these actions and traits echo throughout history. One figure whose legacy continues to reverberate through British heritage is Commander Norman Douglas Holbrook VC (9 July 1888 – 3 July 1976). His life was emblematic of a time of change, courage, and the relentless pursuit of duty, leaving an indelible mark on both the Royal Navy and the broader British historical narrative.
Norman Douglas Holbrook was born in Southsea, Hampshire, the fourth son of Colonel Sir Arthur Holbrook, a deputy Lord Lieutenant and later a Conservative MP for Basingstoke, and his wife, Amelia. His father was a successful newspaper proprietor and founder of a thriving printing business, imparting a strong sense of purpose and determination to young Norman. After receiving his education privately and at Portsmouth Grammar School, Holbrook began his naval career in 1903 at the age of fifteen when he enrolled at Britannia Royal Naval College.
Progressing through the ranks, Holbrook was appointed midshipman in January 1905 and subsequently served in several submarines before taking command of HMS B11 at the end of 1913.
Holbrook's most noteworthy contribution to British military heritage took place during the First World War, where his valour earned him the prestigious Victoria Cross (VC), the highest honour in the British system. He was the first submariner to be awarded this medal and the first to receive it during the First World War.
On 13 December 1914, Holbrook, then a lieutenant, performed a heroic feat in the Dardanelles, Turkey. He manoeuvred the aged and technologically inferior HMS B11 under five rows of mines to torpedo and sink the Ottoman ironclad Mesûdiye, which guarded the minefield. Despite the adverse conditions and fierce retaliatory attacks, he managed to guide his vessel and crew back to the safety of the Mediterranean after being submerged for a gruelling nine hours.
Holbrook married twice, first to Viva Dixon in 1919, with whom he had a son tragically killed in action during the Second World War. Following his first wife's passing in 1952, he married Austrian Gundula Bleichart the subsequent year.
Holbrook passed away on 3 July 1976 in Midhurst, Sussex, and his remains were interred at St James Old Churchyard, Stedham, West Sussex. His legacy, however, outlived him and continued to gain prominence not only in his homeland but also abroad.
In a unique honour, the New South Wales Eastern Riverina town of Germanton in Australia was renamed Holbrook in 1915, a result of anti-German sentiments related to the First World War. This act of commemoration was unprecedented, making him likely the only VC recipient to have a town and a local government area named after him. His widow, Mrs. Gundula Holbrook, further cemented his legacy by donating his Victoria Cross to the Shire of Holbrook in 1982 and contributing substantially to a submariners' memorial in the town.
Holbrook's memory is kept alive in the United Kingdom as well. Holbrook Road in Portsmouth carries his name, and a plaque was erected in his honour by the Submariners Association on the exterior wall of the Portsmouth Grammar School Junior School in 2014.
Holbrook's VC medal group, now displayed at the Australian War Memorial, serves as a poignant reminder of his courage, and his commitment to duty stands as a shining beacon in the annals of British military history. His legacy is a testament to the spirit of heroism and dedication that has marked the British nation for centuries and continues to inspire future generations.
Formative Years and Naval Inception
Norman Douglas Holbrook was born in Southsea, Hampshire, the fourth son of Colonel Sir Arthur Holbrook, a deputy Lord Lieutenant and later a Conservative MP for Basingstoke, and his wife, Amelia. His father was a successful newspaper proprietor and founder of a thriving printing business, imparting a strong sense of purpose and determination to young Norman. After receiving his education privately and at Portsmouth Grammar School, Holbrook began his naval career in 1903 at the age of fifteen when he enrolled at Britannia Royal Naval College.
Progressing through the ranks, Holbrook was appointed midshipman in January 1905 and subsequently served in several submarines before taking command of HMS B11 at the end of 1913.
First World War: A Display of Unflinching Bravery
Holbrook's most noteworthy contribution to British military heritage took place during the First World War, where his valour earned him the prestigious Victoria Cross (VC), the highest honour in the British system. He was the first submariner to be awarded this medal and the first to receive it during the First World War.
On 13 December 1914, Holbrook, then a lieutenant, performed a heroic feat in the Dardanelles, Turkey. He manoeuvred the aged and technologically inferior HMS B11 under five rows of mines to torpedo and sink the Ottoman ironclad Mesûdiye, which guarded the minefield. Despite the adverse conditions and fierce retaliatory attacks, he managed to guide his vessel and crew back to the safety of the Mediterranean after being submerged for a gruelling nine hours.
Personal Life and Later Years
Holbrook married twice, first to Viva Dixon in 1919, with whom he had a son tragically killed in action during the Second World War. Following his first wife's passing in 1952, he married Austrian Gundula Bleichart the subsequent year.
Remembering Norman Douglas Holbrook: An Enduring Legacy
Holbrook passed away on 3 July 1976 in Midhurst, Sussex, and his remains were interred at St James Old Churchyard, Stedham, West Sussex. His legacy, however, outlived him and continued to gain prominence not only in his homeland but also abroad.
In a unique honour, the New South Wales Eastern Riverina town of Germanton in Australia was renamed Holbrook in 1915, a result of anti-German sentiments related to the First World War. This act of commemoration was unprecedented, making him likely the only VC recipient to have a town and a local government area named after him. His widow, Mrs. Gundula Holbrook, further cemented his legacy by donating his Victoria Cross to the Shire of Holbrook in 1982 and contributing substantially to a submariners' memorial in the town.
Holbrook's memory is kept alive in the United Kingdom as well. Holbrook Road in Portsmouth carries his name, and a plaque was erected in his honour by the Submariners Association on the exterior wall of the Portsmouth Grammar School Junior School in 2014.
Holbrook's VC medal group, now displayed at the Australian War Memorial, serves as a poignant reminder of his courage, and his commitment to duty stands as a shining beacon in the annals of British military history. His legacy is a testament to the spirit of heroism and dedication that has marked the British nation for centuries and continues to inspire future generations.
- Norman Douglas Holbrooken.wikipedia.org
