Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John served in the Army for over 36 years, including with the 6th Division Reconnaissance Regiment in the Middle East

Born on 19 May 1902 in Coburg VIC, the son of John Edward Holden & Abina Mary Cronin

At the age of 18y 3m he enlisted in the Permanent Military Force on 19 August 1920 & was allocated as VP882 Gunner with the Royal Australian Field Artillery

His postings & promotions in the PMF between 19 August 1920 – 13 October 1939 include :

2nd Battery, Royal Australian Field Artillery : 19 August 1920

Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, Fort Queenscliff : 1 July 1922

1st Battery, Royal Australian Field Artillery : 20 July 1923

Appointed Lance Bombardier : 24 July 1926

Promoted Bombardier : 22 November 1926

Promoted Sergeant : 1 April 1928

2nd Cavalry Division, 22nd Field Brigade, Australian Instructional Corps : 15 July 1928

Promoted Warrant Officer Class II : 15 July 1928

Promoted Warrant Officer Class I : 1 February 1939

Appointed to Commission : 14 February 1939

Appointed Honorary Lieutenant (Temp Quartermaster) : 15 February 1939

AWARD – Long Service & Good Conduct Medal : August 1939

John was recruited for the newly raised Recce Regiment by then NX73 Captain Charles Hector Finlay, the first Regimental Adjutant, who would later become Commanding Officer of 2/24th Battalion, then Commanding Officer of "Z" Special Unit before retiring from the Army as Major General in 1967

On 13 October 1939, John was Seconded to the Australian Imperial Force as VX113 Captain

His postings & promotions in the AIF between 13 October 1939 – 1 July 1947 include :

6th Division Reconnaissance Regiment, with Headquarters Squadron Regimental Quartermaster : 27 October 1939

Over the course of the next fortnight, personnel arrived from South Australia, Western Australia & Tasmania, however, it was not until mid-December that the Regiment was fully concentrated at Ingleburn when the last troops (including John) arrived from Victoria. By this time, the decision had been made that the troops of the 2nd AIF would be sent to the Middle East to train while they waited for transportation to Europe

Ceased to be QM & appointed as Officer Commanding, HQ Sqn : 11 December 1940

The regiment had only been in existence for two months when it deployed overseas, embarking from Sydney for the Middle East on board RMS (U3) Strathnaver on 10 January 1940, disembarking at El Kantara on 14 February

The 6th Division Recce Regiment was renamed 6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment on 11 June 1940

Ceased to be OC, HQ Sqn & appointed Adjutant with RHQ : 1 November 1940

Ceased to be Adjutant, RHQ & appointed as OC, HQ Sqn : 7 August 1941

Ceased to be OC, HQ Sqn & appointed as OC, C Sqn as Major : 20 October 1941

AWARD – Mentioned in Despatches
Citation : "For conspicuous service rendered in the Middle East, (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk), during the period February, 1941 to July 1941)"
Promulgated in the LG : 30 December 1941

On 13 January 1942, the Regiment received a “Recall to Australia of Officers” request, for John to return for duty with the Training Cadres & he embarked for return to Australia on 29 January, disembarking in Melbourne on 28 March, where on arrival he was granted his accrued disembarkation leave & subsequently posted to the Officer Training School at Bonegilla on 16 April 1942

Transferred to 2/8th Armoured Regiment & Seconded to 1st Armd Div, HQ Sqn as OC : 12 October 1942

Transferred to 101st Motor Regt & remains Seconded to 1st Armd Div, HQ Sqn as OC : 5 November 1942

Seconded to 101st Motor Regt : 15 November 1942

Detached to 3rd Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot as OIC for special RSM & CSM’s Course : 15 May – 7 August 1943

On 8 October 1943, 1st Recce Sqn formed from 1st Armd Div, HQ Sqn with effective strength of 9 Officers & 124 OR’s under command of Major Holden

Transferred as General Staff Officer II to VX55528 Lt Col R. J. M. Gordon, 1st Arm Div : 7 December 1943

Placed on Permanent Supernumerary List (Australian Light Horse) : 30 September 1944

Posted to "G" Branch as GSO II (Armd) – Director of Military Training : 12 April 1945

Posted to "Q" Branch as Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master General (Disposals) : 12 October 1945

Posted to Army Headquarters "Q" Branch as Deputy Quarter-Master General : 8 March 1947

Ceased appointment in the AIF & Seconded to the Interim Army, Special List as Major : 1 July 1947

Appointed as 3/111 Lieutenant (QM) in the Permanent Military Force : 7 May 1948

Promoted Captain (QM) Australian Instructional Corps, PMF : 23 October 1950

Promoted Major (QM) AIC, PMF : 4 May 1951

AWARD – Member of the Order of the British Empire (Mily)
Promulgated in the LG : 1 January 1951 (New Year Honours List)

Promoted Major (QM), AIC PMF : 4 May 1951

Commenced Higher Duties Allowance (HDA) as Lieutenant Colonel : 19 November 1951

Appointed as Camp Commandant, Southern Command, Army Headquarters : 1 June 1952

Ceased Secondment in the Interim Army & transferred to the Australian Regular Army : 14 August 1953 & allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps

AWARD – Meritorious Service Medal
Promulgated in the CAG : 54/55

John’s appointment in the ARA was terminated due to reaching age limit (55 years) & he retired from the Army with the rank of Major (Honorary Lieutenant Colonel) on 9 May 1957

John married Bernice Irene Blogg in Victoria in 1938 & he passed away on 13 December 1969 at the age of 67 years, 7 months, 4 days, leaving behind his wife Bernice. He was interred at Brighton General Cemetery, Caulfield South, Glen Eira City, Victoria & Bernice joined him there when she passed away in 1976

He served for a total of 36 years, 9 months, 8 days & was awarded the MBE, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal w/Mention in Despatches (Oakleaf), Australian Service Medal, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal & Australian Defence Medal