- Jon Hollingsworth
Infobox Military Person
name= Jonathan Hollingsworth
lived=1971 - 2006
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
caption=
nickname= Jon
allegiance= flagcountry|United Kingdom
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant
branch=
commands=
unit=Special Air Service
battles=The Troubles Operation Telic
awards=
laterwork=Sergeant Jonathan Stuart Hollingsworth CGC, QGM who died on24 November 2006 , at the age of 35, was an SAS soldier.Described as "an SAS hero" by a British tabloid newspaper, the former paratrooper reportedly sustained gunshot wounds during a raid to capture terror leaders in
Basra and later died of his injuries at a nearby military hospital.Sources suggest he had been recommended for a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross after single-handedly killing six insurgents during a separate raid in the southern Iraq capital only weeks earlier.
He was the 126th British soldier to be killed in operations in
Iraq .Sgt Jonathan Hollingsworth was born in 1971, at Hull,
Humberside . Married with a family, he was a member of the Parachute Regiment before eventually joining the SAS.Only weeks before his death, reports suggested that Sgt Hollingsworth, who embodied the SAS motto "who dares wins", had been shot in the neck during another operation in
Basra . The bullet missed his carotid by millimetres but, rather than taking time off to recover, he promptly returned to action.Defence Secretary
Des Browne said: "The death of Sgt Hollingsworth is a terrible loss and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family, friends and comrades."Sgt Hollingsworth was killed on a successful operation to detain those who were known to attack both civilian and military personnel. He did not die in vain."
Hollingsworth was twice decorated for his gallantry; firstly receiving the
Queen's Gallantry Medal as aCorporal inNorthern Ireland , and later theConspicuous Gallantry Cross inIraq .External links
* [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/SergeantJonathanHollingsworthKilledInIraq.htm Early MOD press release]
* [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1242017,00.html Sky News Report]
* [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/08/08/hidden-sas-hero-outrage-89520-19586821/ Daily Mirror report]
* [http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/hollingsworth/2621307 Lasting Tribute]
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