Orders, Decorations and Medals

An O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. A. Ollard, late Cambridgeshire Regiment and subsequently High Sheriff for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire

The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) 2nd type; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., Camb. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Defence Medal; Vatican, Order of St Gregory, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, together with the Freedom of the Borough of Wisbech, a superb illuminated scroll on vellum, contained in its wooden presentation casket, 290mm x 160mm x 145mm, the lid with applied enamelled arms of Wisbech, and with silver plaque inscribed ‘Presented to Alderman Lt. Col. J. W. A. Ollard, O.S.J., K.S.G., D.L., on his admission as a Freeman of the Borough of Wisbech, 16th August 1944’, the group mounted as worn, enamel damage to one arm of St Gregory badge, otherwise good very fine (7) £700-900

John William Arthur Ollard was born on 4 July 1893, and educated at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and Downing College, Cambridge. He joined the 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment in 1912 and served in France in 1915, retiring in 1919 with the rank of Captain. He was re-employed in 1941 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Joined Isle of Ely County Council in 1922, becoming Alderman in 1934, and Chairman in 1957; also served on Wisbech Town Council from 1926, becoming Alderman in 1931; Mayor of Wisbech, 1927; Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, 1935; High Sheriff, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, 1943. He was appointed an Officer of St John in 1943, Knight Commander of St Gregory in 1948, and made Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Wisbech in 1944. Colonel Ollard died on 28 January 1961.