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Ervín Hoida

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Ervín Hoida
Born(1918-11-30)30 November 1918
Ostrava, Czechoslovakia
Died14 February 2024(2024-02-14) (aged 105)
Wirral, England
Allegiance Czechoslovakia
 France
 United Kingdom
RankMajor
UnitCzechoslovakia Independent Armoured Brigade
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards State Defense Cross
Czechoslovak War Cross
Medal of Merit

Ervín Hoida (30 November 1918 – 14 February 2024) was the last surviving Czechoslovak veteran of the Battle of France.

Biography

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Hoida, born in Ostrava, was the youngest of three sons born to Jewish parents, Ferdinand and Frantiska (née Enochova). His journey began with woodworking studies at a college in Valašské Meziříčí, followed by an assistant manager position at the Schnitzer factory in Krnov in 1937. Concerned about the treatment of Jews in Germany, his father, a successful businessman, initiated plans to leave the country. With the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the parents sent their belongings to London and attempted to depart for Haifa, only to be redirected to Mauritius. Meanwhile, Hoida, his brothers, and their wives traveled to Italy on student passes. Hoida managed to navigate to France under cover of darkness, landing in Nice, and sought assistance from the Czechoslovak consulate.[1]

In the summer of 1943, he underwent a tank driver's course and enlisted in the Foreign Legion in Sidi Bel Abbès, French Algeria. Later, he joined the 1st Infantry Regiment Czech Army, stationed for rear guard duty northeast of Paris. Forced to retreat, he swam across the river at Gien after a bridge on the Loire was destroyed. While his brothers remained in France, Hoida traveled to Gibraltar before reaching Liverpool, England, where he joined other 4,000 soldiers in the Czech Independent Armoured Brigade. During this time, he married Isabel Lucas who worked for the Auxiliary Territorial Service.[2] Afterwards, his battalion's tanks were involved in the siege of Dunkerque before eventually reaching to Czechoslovakia's borders.[3][2]

After returning to Ostrava with his wife, Hoida immigrated back to England to escape the communist regime. He worked as a draughtsman at Heaton Tabb, a Liverpool firm specializing in crafting interior furnishings for opulent ocean liners. Subsequently, he ascended to the role of executive director at Rackstraw, a company based in Worcester, renowned for its production of exquisite reproduction antique furniture, until his retirement in 1983. Following the death of his wife in 1997, with whom he had two sons, he left Malvern Hills and returned to Merseyside where he married Lena Binks in 2005.[2] He also spent twelve years living in Spain before settling in Wirral.[1] Hoida died on 14 February 2024, at the age of 105.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ervin Hoida, Czech soldier decorated for his tank service in 1944 who settled in Britain – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Hoida, Alan (27 March 2024). "Ervin Hoida obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Funeral of Wirral war veteran Major Ervin Hoida who was 105". Wirral Globe. 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Ervín Hoida, the last Czechoslovak WWII veteran in England, passed away". Embassy of the Czech Republic in London. 15 February 2024.