WW1 GALLIPOLI DIED OF WOUNDS MEDAL GROUP TO CPL POLLARD LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS

Description

Offered is a 1914 – 15 Star, impressed named 945 C^PL E. POLLARD. LAN: FUS. British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 945 CPL E. POLLARD. LAN. FUS. Swing mounted style for display. Comes with copies M.I.C. medal rolls and newspaper article.

Corporal Ernest Pollard was born in 1889 at Salford, Lancashire, he enlisted with the 7^th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in 1907. The 1911 census records him as a dock labourer, living at home with his mother, brother and two sisters.

On the outbreak of war, the Battalion was at their annual training camp. They received the order to mobilise at 17:30 hrs, 4 August. On 10th August the T.F. was invited to volunteer for overseas service, and within a few days 90 per cent of the division had accepted. On 20 August the division moved into camps for training, with 7th Lancashire Fusiliers at Turton, and on 9 September it entrained for Southampton to embark for Egypt. The division began to disembark at Alexandria on 25 September.

The battalion embarked on SS Nile at Alexandria and landed 5 May Gallipoli  ‘W’ Beach at Cape Helles. The 1/7th supported an attack by the 1/6th Bn the Second Battle of Krithia on 6 May and the following day moved forward through the captured line, but was forced to retire after two attempts to take Gurkha Bluff. The battalion was relieved at sundown. On 4 June it took part in the Third Battle of Krithia, where the 1/7th moved up from divisional reserve to join the fighting, but was more heavily engaged on 6 June in fending off Turkish counter-attacks. The battalion suffered 179 casualties being 22 KIA, 138 WIA and 11 MIA.

At some stage Corporal Pollard was wounded and subsequently died of his wounds. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death as the 13^th June as does the record of soldiers effects, however the medal roll and M.I.C. records died of wounds 20^th June. He is buried at the East Mudros Military Cemetery.