Selected Biography

Pollard, Alfred ‘Walter’ [mm] – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 19.7.1896.[1]  Parents: William Thomas Pollard (Publican, later Greengrocer) and Alice Jane [née Blythe] of Long Melford.  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford [1896], The Clarendon, Harwich Road, Colchester, Essex (1901), 30 West Stockwell Street, Colchester (1911).  Occupation: Greengrocer’s Errand Boy (1911).  Service Record: Walter enlisted in 1915 as Pte.12830 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Essex Regiment and was posted to France from 8.9.1915 as part of 35^th Brigade, 12^th [Eastern] Division.  The Battalion saw action during the Battles of the Somme in 1916 and the Arras Offensive in April and May 1917.[2]  He was promoted to Corporal and later to Lance Sergeant, being awarded the Military Medal in 1917.[3]  Died: Walter Pollard died of wounds on 7.5.1917 at N^o. 8 Casualty Clearing Station at Agnez-lès-Duisans.  It is possible that these wounds were sustained during a dawn raid on the enemy held ‘Rifle Trench’ at the end of April.  This was the last major action by 9^th Essex to take place before Walter’s death and resulted in the loss of 139 men either killed, wounded, or missing.  Lance Sergeant Pollard is buried in Duisans British Cemetery [grave ref: III.K.25], Étrun, Pas-de-Calais, France and commemorated on the Borough of Colchester Roll of Honour in the foyer of the Town Hall, Colchester in Essex.[4]

Notes – [1] Baptism Register of 6.9.1896 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [2] For an account of the Walter’s time with 9^th Essex see War Diary [WO 95/1851/1-3]. [3] For notification of his Military Medal see the Supplement to the London Gazette 17.7.1917, p.7283.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 516295].