Name
Thomas David Pollard
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13430
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 41.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Thomas was the son of Henry and Rose Pollard, of Wild Hill, Hatfield, Herts.
In the 1901 Census, he was 10, so born circa 1891, the family were living at Wild Hill, Hatfield. His father was working as an ordinary agricultural labourer. In 1911 the family were still living at Wild Hill. Thomas was still with his family and now working as a cowman. His father, Henry, now a woodman and his mother, Rose, working as a char-woman.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
After enlistment Thomas became Private 13430, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Thomas Pollard – Wild Hill – 3rd Beds Regt".
In a letter sent to his parents (From family archive) he wrote:
“2nd Beds Regt.
Grenade Section
Dearest Mother,
Just a line to let you know that I am still well and am hoping this will find you all at home in the best of health. Hope Dad is still able to continue his work. I have not yet received your parcel Lizzie said she sent.
I don’t expect we shall have the opportunity of writing again for a few days but if I can I will. I hope Emily has been to see you again, she told me she would.
I heard from Harry Monk he is still alright. There is not many of us left here from around home and Welham Green now. They are home again wounded, lucky to be slight wounds and to get out of it.
I hope you have received my letters.
Please remember me to Mr Spencer and tell him I will write at the first opportunity.
I had a nice letter from Mr Gravestock last week.
Well dear Mother and Father I often think and wonder when or whether I shall have the luck of coming back again to see you all, which I am hoping every day to do so, but never mind only time will tell.
The weather here is splendid, plenty of fruit this season.
Well I must close wishing you all the best of luck and health, hoping to hear from you soon.
With best of love
From your loving son Tom xxx"
(Lizzie – sister, Emily –fiancé, Harry Monk –a friend, he did not survive the war.)
Then in the Bishop’s Hatfield parish Magazine of July 1915, in ‘Extracts from Letters from the Front.’ He wrote
“May 1915,
I hope you all enjoyed yourself at Whitsun, as I thought about you all. I am sure and wished I were with you again, it did not seem like a holiday to us although we were out of the trenches, but I must say we had a rough time before that and thank God I am spared through it all, as it was terrible. We made two advances and captured the German trenches, but it cost a lot of lives for though we were under shell fire for ten days and I must say it was enough to drive a fellow mad as they were so deadly; it was a sight to see our chaps blown to pieces. I shall never forget it, what few of us were left thought ourselves lucky. It is cruel when the beasts use that gas, as it is an awful death to have. We are all issued with gags to cover our mouths with, it helps us to overcome the strength of it and stand our ground. Generals French and Joffe came to inspect us on behalf of the good work we have done lately the other day and I saw the Prince of Wales sometime back. I expect you wondered why I have not written to you before the last letter which I hope you got on Whit Monday, but I could not as we were engaged and we cannot write then. I think we are having another go shortly. How I wish the War was over but the more we kill the more seem to come up, where they come from beats me. I was glad to see Italy start as it will shorten it a bit. I only wish I come out of it safely so that I can come home to you all again. I generally dream that I am home and then wake up and find myself here it makes me wild then.........Pray for me Mum when you go to Church for my safety, but if I die I die with a good heart to know that I love my Mother and Father dearly
Thomas Pollard “
In November 1915, the magazine recorded: “Since our last issue we have to mourn the loss of Lieutenant Hubert Phillips, Privates Sydney Birch, Frederick Newman and Thomas Pollard who died gloriously for their King and Country............ Thomas Pollard was killed in the September advance in France and the news of his death, rumoured for some days was confirmed by the official War Office intimation to his parents. Readers to this magazine will perhaps remember a particularly interesting extract from Letters from the Front, which was written by Thomas Pollard. His place at home will know him no more but he will never be forgotten.”
Awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir, Committee Ledger: Mrs Pollard (Mother) of Wild Hill, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
