Alfred Oliver Pollard
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Alfred Oliver Pollard VC, MC & Bar, DCM (4 May 1893-5 December 1960) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Pollard had volunteered for service in 1915. He was wounded twice, but showed exceptional courage in returning to his unit after recovering from wounds. His bravery earned him the highest and most awards awarded to a soldier in his unit during the war.
He had entered the war as a private, but was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 April 1917 at Gavrelle, France, the troops of various units had become disorganized owing to the heavy casualties from shell fire and a subsequent determined attack with very strong forces caused further confusion and retirement. Second Lieutenant Pollard realized the seriousness of the situation and with only four men he started a counter-attack with bombs, pressing it home until he had broken the enemy attack and regained all that had been lost and much ground in addition. This officer's splendid example inspired courage into every man who saw him.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Honourable Artillery Company Museum (London, England).
[edit] Early and family Life
He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School 1906-1908.
His elder brother, was also a member of the HAC, but when he believed he would not be sent to the front, deserted and joined the Grenadier Guards. He was killed in 1917, just before he was to be sent back to England on a Commissioning course.
Pollards' autobiography, Fire-Eater: the Memoirs of a VC published in 1932, recounts his experience of the war, from joining the HAC on the outbreak of war up to the armistice. It depicts a man who was able to deal with the violence and huge loss of life by rationalising it as a necessary evil to destroy the enemy.
[edit] Later life
Pollard became a professional writer post-war, and published more than 60 books, fiction and non-fiction.
