2721385 John William Frost HOLLINGWORTH, MM, 1 Irish Guards

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Name Hollingworth, John William Frost
Rank: Guardsman
Service No: 2721385
Regiment: 1 Battalion Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia)
Award: Military Medal
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 23 September 1943
Date 1943-1944
Catalogue reference WO 373/2


24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 5 Corps
2721385 Guardsman John William Frost HOLLINGWORTH, 1st Bn IRISH GUARDS

Defence of Pts 212 and 214, 28 - 30th April 43.

As an example of stolid silent courage and unostentatious devotion to duty throughout the whole period of the attack and defence, it would be difficult to equal the conduct of this Guardsman.

As he is not a very young or active man, he was appointed i/c Ammunition. The arduousness and danger of this task, as well as its subsequent importance were originally under-estimated, but he proved more than equal to it. He was continually passing up and down the firing line handing out ammunition, dragging the heavy boxes through shell fire, and of necessity exposing himself to M/G fire in order to reach the forward positions.

At one stage, when there were only 20 rounds left in the Bn reserve, he saved the situation by remembering that 3 boxes of S.A.A. had been left on the forward slope on the night of 27th April. Without saying a word he made three separate journeys through M/G and shell fire to fetch these.

On the last journey he was wounded, but brought in the box and continued his duties until stiffness of the wound in his leg made him limp, which was the first indication anyone had had that he was wounded.

When ammunition was low again he made yet another journey to retrieve boxes of M/G amn, and by knocking the rounds out of the belts provided the Bn with a much needed extra 1500 rounds.

His steadying influence, common sense, laconic good humour and complete indifference to danger had a great effect on the men around him. Several men were heard to say that if old HOLLINGWORTH could stick it so could they, and I consider his example, courage and endurance to have been of the greatest value to the Bn.

I strongly recommend this Guardsman for gallantry and efficiency.

Signed C.A. M-D-SCOTT, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 1st Bn IRISH GUARDS