Ernest Holloway facts for kids

Sir Ernest Holloway KCB OBE was an important British civil engineer. He was born on April 24, 1887, and passed away on February 27, 1961, at 73 years old. He worked for the Air Ministry for many years, starting in 1934.

From 1939 until he retired in 1947, he was the Director of Works. In this role, he managed a huge building project. This project created many airbases and facilities. These were built for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Air Force. His work was very important during World War II.

Early Life and Military Service

Ernest Holloway was born in 1887. He went to King Edward's School, Birmingham. Later, he studied engineering at the Central Technical Institute. From 1902 to 1906, he trained with T. H. Shipton. After his training, he stayed on as Shipton's assistant.

Before World War I, he worked for local councils. He helped build important things like water systems, sewers, bridges, and roads. He also oversaw five housing projects. These projects included building roads and connecting homes to utilities.

During World War I, Holloway served in the military. He was with the Royal Flying Corps and then the Royal Air Force (RAF). He rose to the rank of major. For his service, he received an award. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1919.

Career in Public Service

After World War I, Holloway joined the Civil Service. He became a civil engineer at the Air Ministry. He was in charge of building projects in the South Eastern District. He managed a large budget for these projects.

In 1922, he was promoted to Superintending Engineer, Grade 2. From 1925 to 1928, he worked on a big program. This program was called the Air Ministry Home Defence Expansion. It was a very large project, costing millions of pounds. Between 1928 and 1930, he was the Superintending Engineer, Grade 1. He was responsible for building coastal stations and seaplane bases. He also oversaw training centers.

From 1930 to 1932, Holloway was the chief engineer for the Air Defence of Great Britain. After that, he became the chief engineer for the RAF in the Middle East. He managed building projects in several countries. These included Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, and Jordan.

From 1934 to 1937, he was the Assistant Director of Works at the Air Ministry. During this time, he managed a huge program. This program built 50 new RAF bases. It was a massive undertaking. In 1937, he became the Deputy Director of Works. Then, in 1939, he became the Director of Works. In this role, he oversaw the building of many bases during World War II. These bases were for both the RAF and the United States Air Force. He retired from his work in 1947.

Later Life and Achievements

For his important work, Ernest Holloway received more honors. In 1941, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Later, in 1944, he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. This meant he received the title "Sir."

Sir Ernest Holloway passed away on February 27, 1961. He was survived by his wife and his two daughters. His work helped build many important airbases. These bases were crucial for the defense of Britain and its allies during wartime.