Pomeroy Holland-Pryor was born on 7 July 1866. He was commissioned into the 3rd Dragoon Guards as a second lieutenant on 16 November 1887, and transferred to the Indian Staff Corps in March 1891, serving with the 17th Bengal Cavalry as a lieutenant and squadron officer. In 1893 he was appointed adjutant in the 13th Bengal Lancers. Holland-Pryor was promoted to captain in the 13th Lancers on 16 November 1898, still serving as adjutant, and to major on 29 November 1900. In November 1901 he was appointed recruiting staff officer. As a captain in the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Lancers he was the British officer in charge of the four Indian officers selected to attend King Edward VII in England in 1909, and was awarded the MVO. In the First World War he served as a staff officer, awarded the DSO in 1916 (Edinburgh Gazette, 30 June 1916), reaching the rank of major-general. He was appointed KCB. Major-General Sir Pomeroy Holland-Pryor KCB, DSO, MVO, CMG died in Hampstead on 15 March 1955. He was married to Lady Agnes St John Moir.
The portrait photograph is by Lafayette, taken in 1927. It shows him wearing a scarlet general officer’s tunic with heavy gold lace. The rank of major-general is indicated by embroidered badges of crossed baton and sword with a star, sewn on to his plaited gold shoulder cords.
His medals include crosses for the DSO and MVO. The decoration for the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) is at his neck. The seven-pointed star of the Order of St Michael and St George is attached to a button.
