Ernest Oliver Pollard

 Ernest was the son of Alfred and Margaret Pollard.  Alfred the father had been born in Rutland but his wife Margaret hailed from Gwernaffield, Mold.  We have found the parents living in Hulme in the 1881 census. Alfred was an ‘engine driver at works’ and Margaret was a tailoress. They had one son aged 1 then, he was named Alfred L T. Ernest did not come along for another two years.

We have so far found no trace of this family in the 1891 census.

In the census of 1901 there is an 18 year old Ernest Pollard and a 21 year old Alfred Pollard who had both been born in Manchester and who were Coal Miners, living as Boarders in the home of William Woods (also a Miner) and his family (a wife and 3 daughters) at Pontefract Terrace,  Hemsworth  in West Yorkshire.  The interesting thing is that the next door neighbours, the Hewitt family  had all been born in Mold Flintshire.

In the next census of 1911 the parents and Ernest were living in Broncoed Terrace, Mold.  Alfred was 62 and was a Plate layer with a Railway Company. His wife of 34 years, Margaret was 66. The form tells us she had given birth to 3 children but one had died.   Ernest was 28, single and the only child still living with his parents. He was described as a firewood dealer.

UK soldiers who died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details at the top of this page. It says that he had been born in Mold which we know was incorrect but  It also tells us that he enlisted in Flint and that he was killed in action in France/Flanders on the 11th April 1917. It is this source that gives us his previous regiment and number. His medal Card also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medal entitlement.

(His Great niece Gillian Foulkes tells us that Ernest and her Grandfather walked from Mold to Flint to enlist)

His Flintshire Roll of Honour card says he had served in the army from 20th April 1916. The card was signed Alfred Pollard (Father or brother?).

The Register of Soldiers’ effects in which the army calculated monies owed to deceased soldiers, includes an entry for Ernest Pollard. It detailed 5 small payments to Ernest’s father Alfred. They totalled £5 .. 9sh .. 6d

Ernest in uniform

Ernest with his grand bicycle.

Many thanks to Ernest’s Great Niece, Gillian Foulkes who has provided the photographs for this page.