Vyvyan Holt
| Sir Vyvyan Holt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1896 London, England |
| Died |
2 July 1960 (aged 63–64) Norwich, Norfolk |
| Occupation | Soldier and diplomat |
| Awards |
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Captain Sir Vyvyan Holt KBE CMG MVO (1896 – 2 July 1960) was a British soldier, diplomat, and Oriental scholar, who was held captive by North Korea for nearly three years during the Korean War.
Born in London in 1896, the son of Teresa and Arthur Ernest Holt, he joined the diplomatic service after studying at university. Holt was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) on 22 April 1914, gaining promotion to Lieutenant on 29 October 1914. After serving in India during World War I, he joined the Iraq Civil Administration in 1919 as an Assistant Political Officer in Sulaimani. During his time in the Kurdish areas of Iraq he learned Kurdish and founded the first Kurdish-language newspaper. He was appointed Oriental Secretary in 1926, a position which he held until 1944. Partway through his time in Iraq he transferred to the Levant Consular Service. Holt also served as British representative to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations.
In 1930, while serving with the British Embassy in Baghdad, the tall and soldierly Holt was noticed by Freya Stark, who pinned her romantic hopes on him until he rejected her declaration of love. However, the two continued to correspond until just before his death.
In June 1933, following the visit of King Faisal I of Iraq to London, Holt was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order (4th Class). In 1939 he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his service as Oriental Secretary at the British Embassy in Baghdad.
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