OBs in the Military John Hollingshead (1942-46, NC)
John was born in 1928 in Ilfracombe North Devon, he attended Blundell’s and was enlisted in 1946 undertaking an Officer cadetship at Sandhurst where he secured a commission into the Devonshire Regiment in 1948.
During the next 10 years he had a multiple of different roles, he was promoted and selected to command as a detachment commander a company of 145 all ranks for a 6 months tour in Benghazi, Libya for internal security and anti riot duties and then in 1963 organized with the resources of the company and the Mediterranean Army Command the immediate rescue and rehabilitation of an Arab town, Barce, of 10,000 inhabitants destroyed in an earthquake. He finished his military career in 1967.
He emigrated to Western Australia with his family and managed the family hotel business before becoming the First State Organizer of The Muscular Dystrophy Research Association of WA. He became the Administrator of the Neuromuscular Foundation and raised in excess of $6m before retiring finally in 1996.
He feels that Blundell’s enabled him to make lifelong and enduring friendships; allowed him to set standards for self discipline and physical endurance, e.g. The Russell [the toughest x country course he ever ran including at Sandhurst]; it gave him an appreciation of music and the Arts; Corps training which did much to alleviate the initial shock of the first day of enlistment as a NSM! A love of tradition and the importance of team work and loyalty.
He has been awarded many honours during his career including the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000. He has been married to Helen since 1953 who he attributes her love and encouraging support over the last 57 years to enable him to lead such a fulfilling and varied life. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters with 8 grandchildren. In his retirement he is enjoying golf, lawn bowls, veggie patch gardening, travelling, reading, Su Do Ku and easy crosswords together with military history and the world of the volunteer!
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