Alfred Oliver Pollard ["Tales of the V.C."], item 4

• December 23, 2017 01:19:20 Thomas A. Lingner

  Tales of the V.C.

  (By Lt. J.P. Lloyd)

  2/Lieut. Alfred Oliver Pollard, M.C., H.A.C.

  
  

    As a result of certain operations, 2nd Lieut. Pollard's 

  battalion had captured and occupied nearly half a mile of German

  trenches. Shortly afterwards the Germans organized a heavy counterattack 

  against the units on the left of his battalion, which, if 

  successful, would probably have meant the retirement of the whole

  line.

    These units had already suffered severe casualties from

  shell fire, and, as most of their officers were either killed or

  wounded, were rapidly becoming disorganized.

    2nd Lieut. Pollard, who was at the time on the right flank

  of his company, at once realized the seriousness of the situation,

  and dashed up to stop the impending retirement. He threw out

  flanking parties on either side of the advancing Germans, and

  himself went forward along the trench, accompanied only by four

  men, and engaged the enemy with bombs.

    Although frequently outranged by the Germans, who had also

  a greater supply of grenades, he succeeded in holding on to the 

  position. At last, when he had only six bombs left, the German

  attack weakened, and 2nd Lieut. Pollard advanced, drawing the enemy

  before him. Although still very short on bombs, he pressed on and

  eventually established himself behind the barricade which had 

  marked the left of our original position.

    In the face of several determined efforts by the Germans

  to recover their lost ground, 2nd Lieut. Pollard and his small

  garrison succeeded in holding them back. He did not leave the

  bombing post until the whole position had been consolidated,

  and/

  
  

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• December 22, 2017 23:15:00 Thomas A. Lingner

  Tales of the V.C.

  (By Lt. J.P. Lloyd)

  2/Lieut. Alfred Oliver Pollard, M.C., H.A.C.

  
  

    As a result of certain operations, 2nd Lieut. Pollard's 

  battalion had captured and occupied nearly half a mile of German

  trenches. Shortly afterwards the Germans organized a heavy counterattack 

  against the units on the left of his battalion, which, if 

  successful, would probably have meant the retirement of the whole

  line.

    These units had already suffered severe casualties from

  shell fire, and, as most of their officers were either killed or

  wounded, were rapidly becoming disorganized.

  
  

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