Description
Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR, Corporal William Henry Pollard, 45th Company Royal Marines Light Infantry. With copy service records.
Officially engraved: “Wm H. Pollard. Corpl 45th Co R.M.L.I.”
Original silk ribbon.
A good engraved early issue of the “Narrow Suspension” RNLSGC circa 1875, “M” in exergue reverse, noted as issued on 7th June 1875.
With digital copy of his service records from the National Archives ref ADM 157.
William Henry Pollard, was born circa 1834 in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
He came from a Roman Catholic family.
At the age of 26, working as a Tailor, he attested for service on 20th September 1860 in Leicester.
He would go on to serve a full 21 years with the R.M.L.I.
Being discharged “Length of service and his own request.”
“He is in possession of 5 good conduct badges, the last awarded 20th Sept 1881, and is in possession of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and is entitled to a gratuity of Ten Pounds £10 on discharge.”
He saw the following service:
“Private, 68th Company, Woolwich Division, 20th September 1860 – 3rd March 1869.
Transferred, 41st Company Chatham Division (At Woolwich), 4th March 1869 – 6th April 1869
41st Company to Deal Depot, 7th April 1869 to 4th Jan 1870.
Promoted to Corporal on 24th October 1870.
Joined 45th Company, at Deal Depot on 25th October 1870 and never left.
Service records note 1st Jan 1875 – 23rd February 1875 – Exemplary Conduct, “Recommended for the Good Conduct Medal”.
Discharged after 21 years from the 45th Company on 27th September 1881 to pension.
His Character and Conduct was noted as “Very Good” from 1860 to 1875 and “Exemplary” from 1875 to 1881, never having slipped up his “General Character” on discharged noted as “Exemplary” by Lieut Col 2nd Commandant of the Depot.
Following his discharge from the R.M.L.I. he would finally return back home to his home town of Kettering in Northamptonshire.
In 1891 he was noted as a 56 year old “Tailors Cutter” living with his wife in Hawthorn Road, Kettering.
He was buried there in the Kettering, London Road Cemetery during 1908.
