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Later two further attacks, each by five aircraft, singled out the Ark Royal for particular attention. They came steadily on, seemingly undeterred by gunfire or fighters and flying a steady course. On both occasions Ark Royal was completely hidden by bomb-splashes and on both occasions she was straddled, several near misses being very near indeed-about 10 yards from the ship-drenching the flight-deck with water, breaking a few light-bulbs and crockery, but doing no other damage. Admiral Somerville, watching from the bridge of the Renown, thought the Ark was gone as she disappeared completely behind the bursts of a dozen bombs, but she came out undamaged, “all her guns blazing, like a great angry bee.” Soon after this the attacks ceased.’ Ark Royal, by William Jameson describes the aircraft carrier’s ordeal at Cape Spartivento on 27 November 1940, when commanded by Captain C. S. Holland, C.B., R.N. ‘Captain Holland, whose health had for some time been worrying Surgeon-Commander Williams (there are few, if any, more demanding jobs than captain of an aircraft carrier), was to be relieved by Captain L. E. H. Maund. The ship’s company was sad to see “Hookie” go; perhaps the young pilots were saddest of all, for they felt their Captain, sensitive and understanding as he was, appreciated their very special problems ... Many of the pilots, young and sometimes rather brash, were new to Service life. To get the best from them - and effectiveness of the entire ship depended on them giving of their best - needed leadership of a particular kind. “He made us feel important,” said one of them afterwards. What finer tribute could a carrier captain wish to have?’ Ibid. A fine Second World War C.B. group of thirteen awarded to Rear-Admiral C. S. “Hookie” Holland, Royal Navy, who commanded the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal in the early stages of the war, when he had the difficult duty of attempting to negotiate the surrender of the French Fleet under Admiral Marcel Gensoul at Oran in July 1940: having then commanded the Signal Department (Wireless and Radar) at the Admiralty, he was advanced to flag rank and commanded the naval forces at the liberation of Singapore in August 1945 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. S. Holland, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. C. S. Holland, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Italy, Order of the Crown, Knight’s breast badge, gold and enamel; United States of America, Order of Merit, Commander’s neck badge, gilt and enamel, the Italian badge lacking its obverse centre-piece, otherwise generally good very fine (13) £1200-1500 Footnote C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1945. Cedric Swinton Holland was born in October 1889, the son of Admiral Swinton Holland and entered Britannia as a Cadet in 1905. He first went to sea as a Midshipman in H.M.S. Sussex in May of the following year and, having been advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in September 1909, served in the royal yacht Victoria & Albert. By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was serving in the cruiser Shannon in the Grand Fleet, the flagship of Admiral Sir Charles Madden C.O. of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. He remained similarly employed until specialising in signals, as a consequence of which he was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Mark Kerr in his flagship the Queen Elizabeth in the Adriatic in the summer of 1916. Then from April 1917 until the end of the war, he served as Wireless Officer on the staff of Admiral Beatty. He was awarded the Italian Order of the Crown and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1919, refers). Following his advancement to Commander in December 1924, Holland qualified at the Staff College and served as Executive Officer of the cruiser Kent on the China Station, before returning to Staff College as an inst