Information on George Pollard

Tragically, George died when he was only twenty-one years old. Like countless others, he gave his life so that others may live in freedom. On the night of his tragic death he was flying in a bomber, when he was shot down by a German night-fighter. 

George's father was Herbert Pollard, his mother Mary Pollard (nee McLaren), was my Grandmother Elizabeth McLaren's Auntie. George became a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His unit was 196 squadron.

Here are the details of how he was shot down...

At 23.41pm, on 25th June 1943, George and four others took off in a Wellington Bomber, Serial No. HE-412 (Please see the Gallery page for a photo of this type of bomber), from Leconfield. Their target was Gelsenkirchen an industrial town near the Dutch border in Germany. At 2.17am, they were shot down by a German night-fighter near Alphen a/d Rijn.

One man survived the accident he was...

Sgt. E.H. Sandell.

The other fatalities were...

Sgt. R.A. Barlow (Airgunner)

Sgt. G.H.W. Peach (wop/airgunner)

P. Off N.B. Smythe (pilot) who came from Jamaica.

George is peacefully buried at Amersfoort (Old Leusden) General Cemetery in the Netherlands, with his comrades.