Image of Jesus College war memorial

Bernard Henry Holloway, Captain, 9th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment

Bernard Henry Holloway came to Jesus from the Leys School in Cambridge, where he excelled at rugby, cricket and lacrosse.

Born: Wandsworth Common, Surrey on 13 January 1888

Fell in action: 27 September 1915

B.H. Holloway“Babe”

Known as “Babe”, mainly because of “a complexion which would have created the reputation of any face cream on the market” Bernard Holloway was a popular figure at the College. His Cock of the Roost profile, written for Chanticlere in 1910, remarks that “To his contemporaries he will be one of the most delightful memories of these golden years”

A rugby blue

At Cambridge he continued his rugby career, playing mostly at half back, where he was described as a “tower of strength to the side” and later at centre three-quarters, where he was less comfortable.

He obtained blues for rugby in 1907 and 1909. In the latter year he took a blow to the head and was stunned early in the match. A lifelong teetotaller, he imagined the sensation must have been comparable to the feeling of a drunken man!

A dashing batsman

He narrowly missed a blue for cricket, where he was a dashing batsman. “His late cut is obviously hereditary; not a thing cultivated in one generation”. After leaving Jesus he played cricket for Sussex and toured the West Indies with MCC. He was also a lacrosse blue and led a revival of the sport at Jesus.

A lifelong teetotaller

He was a sociable man and was a member of most of the College societies, in spite of preferring “ginger beer to the more heady wines.” It seems that his refusal to drink or smoke caused some puzzlement and concern to his fellow students and the fact that he stuck with the teetotalism to the end of his life was noted in his obituary.

He was obviously outspoken about his political views as it was felt that he “would be an asset to any dinner table outside the Carlton Club”

Killed in action

On the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and quickly rose to the rank of Captain. He was killed in action at the Battle of Loos and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais (Panel 69-73)

You can email us on ww1-project@jesus.cam.ac.uk, go to our First World War homepage, or find us on Lives of the First World War.