Killed While Flying as Instrüctor with R.A.F.
Details have now reached Shanghai about the death of Pilot-Offücer W. E. Holland on December 10 while flying as an instructor with the R. A. F. He was about to land at Hatfield aerodrome, in Hertfordshire. in a Gypsy Moth training machine when another plane landed on top of him, and all four occupants of the two planes were killed. Mr. Holland was buried in the R. A. F. corner of St. Alban's Cemetary on December 14, among the officers present being Mr. Maurice dalton, formerly of Tientsin, who is now with the R. A. F.
The unfortunate accident occurred just ten days after "Bill" Holland had joined his squadron as an in~ actor, He was well-known and liked in Shanghai, being a member of many local clubs, He was one of the founder members of the local Royal Air Force Association. leavin to join up with the R. A. F. on Ju 3. 1940, when he was given a rousin:
Send-off party by the club.
Mr, Holland saw wide service with ihe flying corps in the last war, first joining in 1916. By a curious coincidence he received his early traininz as a pilot at Hatfield aerodrome. where he was killed twenty-five years later. He joined a fighter squadron in 1916, and was wounded in 1917, after which was made an instructor at Northolt, finishing with the rank of major in 1919. He was regarded as one of the finest flying instructors in England when he left the R. A. F. after the war, and his application to serve again in this capacity in 1940 was eagerly accepted by the Air Ministry.
He continued flying activities when he came out to China in 1920. He flew the first Chinese made aeroplane at Lungwha aerodrome, and took the first aerial photographs ever io be made of Shanghai. When he lett Shanghai again Holland was particularly anxious to see active service with the R. A. F., but was not permitted to serve, owing to Shanghai at prices higher than those officially fixed. It was alleged that there were secret dealings in the market and that speculators were active spreading rumours about a possible embargo on rice to be laid by authorities in Hongkong or a possible change of situation in the Far East which will affect the arrival of rice. It was urged that the authorities should stop these rumours.
In reality, it was pointed out, 12,000 bags of rice arrived here on Tuesday from Hongkong and shipping between Here and the South Seas has not been curtailed. There was no question that foreign rice could be sent here, it was stated. Hongkong is simply a transit port and even if there should be an embargo enforced b; the authorities there, transportation of rice to Shanghai' would not be affected, it was asserted.
The fact was, the reports explained, seeing that the ready stock in Shanghai was steadily being increased as a result of the continuous arrival of rice, speculators spread the rumours to disturb the market and to increase prices. It was alleged that the seven regulations decided upon recently by the management committee of the Shanghai Rice Market were not faithfully carried out. It w also urged that distribution of cheap rice should be continued pending the establishment of the public granary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.