Military History

Embarked from Australia HMT ‘Aeneus’ A60 for England 7.4.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 17th Reinf, 11th Infantry Battalion.
Pollard disembarked en route to England, at Colombo with measles 29.4.1916. This highly infectious disease was affecting a large number of soldiers in their cramped ship quarters. It was necessary to isolate patients with mumps and measles as soon as was feasibly possible. Pollard was discharged from the Military Hospital and embarked per HT ‘Hororata’ for Egypt.
He disembarked at Suez 9.6.1916 and proceeded to Alexandria to join the BEF. At Alexandria he embarked per ‘Arcadian’ for France 29.7.1916. Pollard disembarked at Marseilles 31.4.1916. He marched into 1st Australian Div. Brigade Depot (ADBD) at Etaples 21.8.1916. Pollard re-joined the 11th Bn. 4.9.1916. Became sick and was transferred by 2nd Field Ambulance to 36th Casualty Clearing Station with rheumatism 8.11.1916. He was transferred to the Ambulance Train 9.11.1916. Pollard was admitted to 1st General Hospital at Rouen with rheumatism 10.11.1916. He embarked for England as an invalid per HS ‘Asturias’ 20.11.1916 and admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital 21.11.1916. He was discharged from hospital 29.12.1916 and was granted furlough for 1 month. He marched in No. 1 Command. Depot at Perham Downs 21.1.1917. Pollard went AWOL 10 day he was awarded a forfeiture of pay for this time. Pollard marched out to Wareham and was transferred to 70th Bn. in 19.3.1917. He was taken on strength with Unit 23.3.1917 and proceeded overseas to France via Southampton. He marched in to Havre 9.10.1917 and rejoined the 11th Bn.
Pollard was reported as wounded in action with a GSW his forehead 12.1.1918. However, the War Diaries show no casualties on this day, but 4 deaths and 5 wounded on 13.1.1918. (AWM 11th Bn. War Diary) He was admitted to the 1st Dressing Station in France and later was discharged to duty 23.1.1918. He rejoined his unit 29.1.1918. Pollard was severely wounded in the field at Mont Merris 3.6.1918. In this battle  over the night of the 3rd-4th June, 92 casualties were sustained. (AWM 11th Bn. War Diaries)Pollard was shot during the ‘hop over’, he was being carried by stretcher bearers to the Ambulance Post when he and the 2 stretcher bearers were hit by a shell. Pollard and the 2 stretcher bearers were killed. His records note he was KIA and buried with three men at Borre by the Bn. Pioneers and crosses were placed on their graves. The graves were not relocated and today Pollard is commemorated at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Private, 11th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  Charles Ernest Pollard. Portrait .Photographer unknown, photograph source P. Sullivan
              HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photograph source State Library NSW image  a636033r
             Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00783
             Ground around Zonnebeke October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01200
             Trench Mortar captured by the 11th Bn. at Mont de Merris June 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E02491
             Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph source H17454

Information Source
AWM E00783. Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01200. Ground around Zonnebeke October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02491. Trench Mortar captured by the 11th Bn. at Mont de Merris June 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWMH17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll -Charles Ernest Pollard
AWM Roll of Honour- Charles Ernest Pollard
AWM Red Cross Files- Charles Ernest Pollard
AWM 4/23/28/35 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary September 1917
AWM 4/23/28/40. 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary June 1918
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Pollard Charles Ernest
SLNSW image  a636033r. HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photograph source State Library of New South Wales
Sullivan. P. Charles Ernest Pollard. Photographer unknown, photograph source and reproduced with  permission of P. Sullivan
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA



17 Johnson Street, Guildford, WA. (original home not extant)

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