Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Pollard, a shoe trade finisher, born on the 5th March 1860 in Anstey, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th March 1860 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey (son of Frederick Pollard, 1839-1867 and Anne Wright, 1840-1869) and his wife Elizabeth Ann Pollard (nee Rushin, married on the 22nd September 1879 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey), a shoe trade machinist, born in the April quarter of 1863 in Anstey and baptised on the 24th May 1863 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey (daughter of Edward Gamble Rushin, 1835 and Ann Davie, 1838). William Amos was born on the 2nd November 1887 in Anstey and baptised on the 2nd October 1887 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, his siblings were, Frederick, a schoolboy, born on the 2nd January 1885 and baptised on the 8th February 1885 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Ann, born on the 26th January 1889 and Edward Albert, born on the 2nd May 1890, all his siblings were born in Anstey, also residing in the family home was William’s maternal uncle, William Rushin, a shoe trade finisher, born 1874 in Anstey, in April 1891 the family home was at Anstey Land Society Cottages, Gladstone Street, Anstey. William’s mother died, aged 35 in the January quarter of 1899 in the Leicester district. In March 1901 William was employed as a boot trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Gladstone Street, Anstey, together with his widowed father, a boot trade finisher and his siblings, Frederick, a boot trade clicker, Ann, Edward Albert, Samuel Rushin, born in the April quarter of 1892, George Harry, born in the April quarter of 1895 and Jim, born on the 24th October 1896, the latter three siblings were all born in Anstey, also residing with the family was William’s widowed maternal grandmother, Ann Rushin, a house keeper, born 1838 in Anstey, his uncle, Wilfrid Brotherhood, a boot trade finisher, born on the 26th September 1879 in Markfield, Leicestershire, his maternal aunt, Eliza Brotherhood (nee Rushin, married in the July quarter of 1900 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), a boot trade fitter, born on the 19th July 1881 in Anstey and his cousin, Wilfrid Brotherhood, born on the 3rd June 1901 in Anstey, in March 1901 the family home was at Gladstone Street, Anstey. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Kintons Yard, Anstey, together with his wife Ada Pollard (nee Cook (Cooke), married in the January quarter of 1907 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), a shoe trade fitter, born on the 21st July 1887 in Markfield and baptised on the 14th August 1887 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield (daughter William Cooke and Ann Brotherhood) and their son William Henry, born on the 22nd April 1907 in Anstey and baptised on the 11th May 1913 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey. William and Ada also had another child, Doris Elizabeth, born on the 3rd April 1913 in Anstey and baptised on the 11th May 1913 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey. William’s widow Ada, married Samuel Ashton in the July quarter of 1919 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district. William also had the following siblings, Elizabeth Ann, born in the April quarter of 1882 in Anstey and who died aged 2 years in June 1884, and was interred in Anstey Cemetery on the 6th June and Polly, born in the January quarter of 1883 in Anstey and baptised on the 8th February 1885 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey and who died aged 4 years in April 1887 and was interred on the 10th April in Anstey Cemetery, there was also an unnamed male child who was still-born in the January quarter of 1881 in Anstey and was interred in Anstey Cemetery. William’s younger brother, George fell in action in October 1915.
William’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 203746.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action on the 22/3/18.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, William nominated his wife, Ada as his sole legatee.
On the 8th May 1915, William’s widow Ada Pollard, of Forest Gate, Anstey, Leicester was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension for herself and her two children of twenty-five shillings and five pence, commensurate on the 14th October 1918.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - The Battalion were in the VAULX - MORCHIES line. The night passed fairly quietly. The morning of the 22nd March dawned with a heavy fog and as soon as it was light the enemy put down a very heavy barrage on the VAULX - MORCHIES line and VAULX. During the night in order to concentrate the Battalion, “B” Company had been ordered to side step to the right and get into touch with “D” Company replacing 1 Company of the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. Advice received during the morning that this was not effected. The Officer Commanding the SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT refusing to move, as he had had no orders. At 8.30am orders were received from Brigade for Battalion Headquarters to move to dug outs east of MARICOURT WOOD, the Commanding Officer, Adjutant and four Orderlies moved off at 9.00am leaving the remainder to follow under Captain H. W. J. BROOKER. No dug outs could be found in the place to be occupied, so Battalion Headquarters was established at the CROSS ROADS I.4.d at 10.30am sharing the same with the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT who had also moved. During the night of the 21st/22nd the 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT and the 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS withdrew from the VAULX - MORCHIES line to a position at I.10.o. central, their places being taken by 1 Company of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. At 11.00am the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT reported that the enemy had broken through the VAULX - MORCHIES line between C.28.c. 85.15 and C.28.c 40.60. An officer of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT reported a few minutes later that the breach extended from C.28.d. 2.2 to C.27.b. 3.7 on a frontage held by 2 Companies of 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT, 1 Company of the 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and 1 Company 8th BORDER REGIMENT. A request was sent to the 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS and 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT to move up to cover valley from line SUNKEN ROAD I.4.c to I.3.d. Defensive flank for high ground east of VAULX WOOD regained by 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT and bombing parties sent forward to recover lost trenches. Reinforcements asked for, for left of Brigade front. At 11.40am enemy reported massing in C.28.a.b.c.d. Officer Commanding “C” Company 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT reported that he had only 37 men left and that enemy were in VAULX WOOD. He was instructed to look after his left flank. 1 officer and 40 other ranks of 11th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT who had come from VAULX - MORCHIES line reported at Battalion Headquarters. At 2.00pm “B” Company reported that they had gained some ground in bombing up the VAULX - MORCHIES line, and were continuing the bombing attack with the help of 1 officer and 60 other ranks of the 2nd SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. MARICOURT WOOD and the vicinity of Battalion Headquarters were heavily shelled throughout the morning. At 2.30pm heavy bombardment by both sides opened on the right of the Brigade front. At 3.15pm enemy seen from Battalion Headquarters pouring into VAULX - MORCHIES line between LAGNICOURT – MARICOURT WOOD ROAD and VAULX WOOD. At 3.45pm the breach this time was effective and the situation was becoming very grave. The withdrawal became somewhat disorderly and the enemy came rapidly through C.28. to I.4., C.29.d. and MORCHIES. A Ridge in I.10.a. and c was held by our Machine gunners, and troops withdrawing were collected and an orderly withdrawal instituted to the partially consolidated line in I.10. central. Up to this time only 1 man (wounded, belonging to “B” Company) of the Battalion had come back from the VAULX - MORCHIES line. At 4.30pm the enemy brought up his light machine guns with great rapidity and was soon putting up a strong barrage with them along the valley in I.10. central and the ridges east and west of it. This valley and the heights were thickly held by troops of 25th Division. An immediate counter attack was urgently required if the VAULX - MORCHIES line was to be regained, but all the troops holding the new line had orders that they were on no account to move forward. The line ran through C.11.c., I.10.d., I.10.c. and I.9.d. Eventually a number of Tanks (about 16) in the visible front came forward and under very heavy shell and Machine Gun fire advanced as far as the VAULX - MORCHIES line with most of the enemy retiring before them. This Tank attack was not supported by infantry and gradually petered out as the Tanks became casualties or used up all their ammunition. At 9.00pm the remnants of the 3 Battalions of the Brigade were: - 1st LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT about 40 all ranks under Lieutenant Colonel F. LATHAM, D.S.O. 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT about 80 all ranks under Lieutenant C. P. BASSENTHWAITE. 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS about 40 all ranks under Captain GILES were disposed in sections of trench in valley in I.10.c. with Battle Headquarters at I.10.d. 10.90. The night passed quietly. Casualties, other ranks “A” Company 6 killed, 14 wounded, 46 missing, “B” Company 3 killed, 14 wounded, 83 missing, “C” Company 6 killed, 21 wounded, 49 missing, “D” Company 1 killed, 12 wounded, 113 missing. Officer casualties Lieutenant Acting Captain F. E. SHELTON killed, 2nd Lieutenant G. MANSFIELD wounded and missing, Lieutenant Acting Captain J.H. JOHN missing, Lieutenant B. C. LAWRENCE missing, 2nd Lieutenant O. C. HARPER missing, 2nd Lieutenant A. H. BAGSHAW missing, 2nd Lieutenant A. C. ANSELL missing, 2nd Lieutenant M. MILLS missing, Lieutenant Acting Captain S. T. HARTSHORNE wounded remained at duty, Captain F. TAYLOR (U.S.M.S.) wounded remained at duty.