John Henderson POLLOCK

Regimental number4864
Date of birth--/01/1896; secondary dob: 18/12/1895
Place of birthParramatta, New South Wales
ReligionMethodist
OccupationClerk
AddressHarwich, John Street, Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 8.5"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, J Pollock, Harwich, John Street, Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Senior Cadets (Lieutenant).
Enlistment date16 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Star of England on 8 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll56th Battalion
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Unit: 54th Battalion
Promotion date: 2 June 1917

Lieutenant


Unit: 56th Battalion
Promotion date: 12 October 1917

FateReturned to Australia 11 May 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'In connection with a raid by a Platoon of the 54th Battalion before LA CORDONNERIE on 12th October, 1916, Corporal POLLOCK showed his usual keenness in the preliminary training and also did excellent reconnoitring work in "NO MAN'S LAND" prior to the raid. He was entrusted with holding the right flank. He bombed a German dugout which held 3 or 4 Germans and accounted for them. on returning with his party to our lines hearing that several men were missing he immediately volunteered to search "NO MAN'S LAND". The success of the raid was due to a considerable extent to the good work performed by this N.C.O.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917

Discharge date15 August 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 19-20 July 1916 (gun shot wound, hand), and admitted to 8th Field Ambulance; transferred same day to Casualty Clearing Station; to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 21 July 1916; discharged to unit, 4 August 1916; rejoined unit, 4 August 1916.

Appoointed Lance Corporal, 17 July 1916; promoted Corporal, 15 August 1916.

Awarded the Military Medal, 25 October 1916.

Promoted Sergeant, 1 January 1917.

Sent to Cadet Training School, England, 30 January 1917; attached to No 5 Cadet Bn, Cambridge, and posted to 'E' Company, 12 February 1917. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 2 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 21 June 1917; taken on strength, 54th Bn, 3 July 1917.

Promoted Lieutenant, 12 October 1917.

Wounded in action, France, 21 October 1917 (shrapnel wound, left arm and thigh), admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and transferred same day to 17th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 2, 22 October 1917, and transferred to 2nd Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, 22 October 1917; to England, 7 November 1917 (multiple gun shot wounds), and admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital, Marylebone, 8 November 1917; discharged to Sutton Veny and marched in to No 1 Command Depot, 31 December 1917. Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 16 January 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 2 February 1918; rejoined 54th Bn, 12 February 1918.

Appointed Signalling Officer, 1 May 1918.

Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 22 June 1918 (bronchitis), and transferred same day to 20th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 61, 26 June 1918, and admitted to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 27 June 1918. Transferred to England, 28 June 1918, and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, 29 June 1918. Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, 15 August 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 26 August 1918; rejoined unit, 3 September 1918.

Deatched to 4th Army Signalling Officers' School, 16 September 1918; rejoined unit, 8 October 1918.

Transferred to 56th Bn, 11 October 1918.

To Charleroi Picquet, 2 February 1919; on leave from Picquet, 7 February 1919; rejoined unit from leave, 26 February 1919.

Marched on on transport duty for return to Australia, 29 March 1919; marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 1 April 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Zealandia', 12 May 1919; arrived Melbourne, 28 June 1919; discharged, 15 August 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal