John Blashford-Snell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Blashford-Snell
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| Birth name | John Nicholas Blashford-Snell |
| Born | 22 October 1936 Hereford, Herefordshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1954–1991 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 453555 |
| Unit | Royal Engineers |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Spouse(s) |
Judith Sherman
(m. 1960) |
| Children | 2 |
Colonel John Nicholas Blashford-Snell (born October 22, 1936) is a famous British explorer and a former army officer. He is known for starting exciting projects like Operation Raleigh and the Scientific Exploration Society. He has led many amazing journeys around the world.
Contents
Early Life and School
John Nicholas Blashford-Snell was born in Hereford, England, on October 22, 1936. His father was a church leader and also served in the army. John grew up in Herefordshire and on the island of Jersey.
He went to school at Victoria College, Jersey. After school, he joined the British Army. He trained to become an officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1957, he officially joined the Royal Engineers.
Military Career
John Blashford-Snell served in the British Army for many years. He started as a Second Lieutenant. Over time, he earned promotions to Lieutenant, Captain, and Major. He became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1976. His final rank was Colonel, which he reached in 1982.
He served for 37 years before retiring from the army in 1991. In 1976, he was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life. This show surprised people by telling their life story.
Amazing Expeditions
John Blashford-Snell is famous for his incredible expeditions. In 1969, he started the Scientific Exploration Society. This group helps organize scientific adventures.
Exploring the Blue Nile
One of his first big adventures was in 1968. He led the first team to travel down the entire Blue Nile River. This was a very challenging journey. During this trip, he accidentally helped invent white-water rafting.
Crossing the Darién Gap
From 1971 to 1972, he led an expedition across the Darién Gap. This is a very difficult jungle area between Panama and Colombia. His team was the first to drive vehicles from Alaska all the way to Cape Horn in South America.
In 1974 and 1975, he completed another huge journey. He navigated the entire Congo River. This was a massive undertaking through the heart of Africa. For his leadership on these expeditions, he received the Segrave Trophy and the Livingstone Medal.
Operation Drake and Raleigh
In 1978, Blashford-Snell created Operation Drake. This was a special program for young people. It helped them go on adventures and learn new skills. Later, this program grew into Operation Raleigh. He was the Director General of Operation Raleigh until 1991.
In 1993, he received the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society. This award recognized his important contributions to geography and exploration.
Later Adventures and Work
John Blashford-Snell has continued to be involved in exploration. In 2006, he even helped design a special hat for explorers. He is also involved with the Centre for Fortean Zoology and the Ghost Club. In 2010, he became an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University.
He has written several books about his adventures. One of his autobiographies is called Something Lost Behind the Ranges. He has been a member of The Explorers Club since 1974. In 1992, he received the Sweeney Medal for his great work with the organization.
Family Life
John Blashford-Snell married Judith Sherman in 1960. They met when he was training at Sandhurst. Judith was also training to be an officer. They have two daughters.
Books by John Blashford-Snell
- Where the Trails Run Out, 1974.
- In the Steps of Stanley, 1975.
- Expeditions: the Experts' way, edited with Alistair Ballantine, 1977.
- A taste for adventure, 1978.
- In the wake of Drake, with Michael Cable, 1980.
- Operation Drake, 1981.
- The expedition organiser’s guide, with Richard Snailham, 1982.
- Mysteries: encounter with the unexplained, 1983.
- Operation Raleigh: the start of an adventure, 1987.
- Something lost behind the ranges: The autobiography of John Blashford-Snell, 1994.
- Mammoth hunt: In search of the giant elephants of Nepal, with Rula Lenska, 1996.
- Kota Mama: retracing the lost trade routes of ancient South American peoples, with Richard Snailham, 2000.
- East to the Amazon: in search of Great Paititi and the trade routes of the ancients, with Richard Snailham, 2002.
- From Utmost East to Utmost West, 2022.
