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Charles Octavius Head
Charles Octavius Head was born at Derrylahan Park, Rathcabbin, Co. Tipperary. He was a colonel in the British Army, and author of four books including his autobiography No Great Shakes. His mansion at Derrylahan was burned during the Irish War of Independence. Head moved his family to Hinton Hall, Pontesbury in Shropshire. His home was again destroyed by fire this time accidently, much of his library was destroyed making his written works extremely rare. The Head family recovered and are well known names in the motor racing world including his son Michael Head OBE and his grandson Patrick Head.

Early Life

Charles Octavius Head was born on May 30th 1869 to William Henry Head (1809-1888) and his wife Isabella Biddulph.

Head attended boarding school in Bray, Co. Wicklow before attending the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, London in 1885.

Head graduated from the academy in 1887 as a lieutenant.

Family Life

Charles Octavius Head married Alice Margaret Trelfall at Tilstone Lodge Tarporley, Cheshire in 19??, they had three children Elizabeth, Isabel and Michael.

Military Career

Heads first military began in served in India, China, South Africa before returning to Ireland and was assigned to the 141st Battery at Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

He retired from the Army in 1908 and reenlisted in 1914 after the commencement of WW1.

Later life

Head retired from the army after the end of WW1 and settled into to farming back home at Derrylahan. The house was built by his father in 1862 at the  cost of £15,000 and was designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. He farmed the substantial estate which was a mixture of good pasture and woodlands.

The War of Independence in Ireland which began in 1919 threatened the stability of the Anglo-Irish families such as the Heads and the house at Derrylahan was burned by the IRA on July 1st 1921.

Head moved his family to England and settled at Hinton Hall in Shropshire. Head later wrote four books, his autobiography No Great Shakes, A Glance at Gallipoli, Napoleon and Wellington and The Art of Generalship.

In 1936 an accidental fire at Hinton Hall destroyed much of his personal papers and much of his printed material.

Legacy

Charles Heads son Michael Head was a race car driver for Jaguar and was father to Sir Patrick Head former head of engineering at Williams Racing.

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