Lieutenant Herbert Edward Pollard
134th Army Troops Coy, Royal Engineers
Killed in Action 26th June 1917
Lived at 21 Colville Street
Buried in Ferme Olivier Cemetery France

ANOTHER OFFICER FALLS
Careful & Conscientious (Burnley Express & Advertiser 4th July 1917)

We deeply regret to learn that another Burnley Officer has fallen in Lieut. Herbert Edward Pollard, of the Royal Engineers, son of Mr and Mrs Spencer Pollard of 21 Colville Street. He was killed on 26th June and his death ends a very fine and promising career. His patriotism is one of the striking narratives of the war. An old Grammar School boy Lieut Pollard served his articles with Mr. Newton of Accrington. Immediately after passing his examinations he was offered an important appointment as one of the engineers to the Municipal Board of Works for the city of Shanghai in China, and he was in the Far East for about seven years. In order that he might volunteer for service, the responsible committee gave him leave of absence until six months after the end of the war, but in the meantime Mr. Pollard sacrificed a good salary. Moreover, he had to pay his own fare from Shanghai. He came over with the Shanghai volunteer Contingent, 108 in number. In Shanghai Europeans are allowed a vote if they are efficient volunteers and Mr. Pollard had made himself efficient in this respect. The Shanghai contingent did not waste any time on the journey, for they all underwent military training on board ship right through the voyage. Mr Pollard acted as a squad leader in the contingent. The journey occupied ten weeks and was of an adventurous character, the Emden being at large when they set off.
Soon after his arrival in this country Mr. Pollard was gazetted as a second-lieutenant in the 7th East Lancashire Regt., and entered on his training with the battalion. But after a time he was transferred to the Royal Engineers, with which he originally hoped to serve, and was drafted out to the Dardanelles, where he was awarded his second star. He was entrusted with much responsible work, and the manner in which he carried it out was recognised by his name being included amongst those mentioned for “distinguished and gallant service rendered during the period of General Sir Charles Monro’s command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force”.
Lieut. H. E. Pollard had since the Dardanelles been transferred to the Western front, where again he did useful work as is evidenced by Captain E. Mitchell’s letter of June 27, announcing his death as follows:-
“It is with sorrow I have to write to tell you of the death of your son, Lieut H E Pollard. He was killed by a shell at 3.30 yesterday (Tuesday morning), and was buried in the military cemetery near by this morning. I am having a cross made for his grave. He was killed instantly, and suffered to pain whatsoever. Your son’s death has been a great shock to all the company, and especially to his two comrade officers. Lieut Hall and myself. He was careful, conscientious, and energetic officer, and one who will be most difficult to replace. I shall, personally never forget him.”
Five years ago whilst on vacation, Mr. Pollard sat for and obtained his final degree of A. M. I. C. E. at Owens College, Manchester. Only a week ago a most cheery letter was received by his parents from him. He was ever fully convinced of the righteousness and ultimate success of the Allied cause. Lieut Pollard was 33 years of age and when in Burnley was connected with the Wesleyan Sunday School, Colne Road and was highly esteemed for his probity of character.
Captain John Pollard, of the Army Veterinary Corps (veterinary surgeon to the Halifax Corporation), is serving with his corps in France.