Herbert POLLARD

30609, Private. b. 1891, Cullingworth d. Wed. 8th May 1918 (aged 27).

Herbert was born in Cullingworth but lived most of his life in Clayton. He probably moved to Clayton when his mum Hettie, was widowed and moved back to Clayton. Herbert aged 9 is shown being baptised at Clayton Weslyan Baptists church in Clayton.

in 1911, Herbert aged 20, is shown living 4 Arkwright Street with his grandad. Hettie having re-married, was now living with her husband at 42 Reva Syke. Herbert was employed as a Stuff Merchants Clerk at his grandfathers company; William Whaley & Son, Stuff Merchants.

Herbert was conscripted into the Forces in January 1916. After his training with the West Yorkshire’s he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princes of Wales’ Own) when he disembarked in France in the middle of 1917.

Surprisingly, Herbert survived the Spring Offensive of 1918 in which many of his comrades fell but died just as the German advance had ground to a halt and the Allies were preparing to go on the offensive themselves. Herbert was killed on 8th May 1918, just weeks before his cousin, Harold would also be killed.

Herbert is listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial, having no grave.

His mother Hettie, remarried and as Hettie Robertshaw gives 1 Watts street , Clayton as her address and to receive Herbert’s war pension.

Whaley Family

Herberts grandad, William Whaley was born in 1842 at Bailey House, Langberries in Clayton. William had a career in wool, working his way from being a wool sorter to a wool waste salesman and finally owning his own company William Whaley & Son, Stuff Merchants. It looks as if his Son Persey never lived to take over the firm, instead going to Williams brother Jo when William retired.

William had a younger brothers Jo and Houldswotrth Whaley. in 1871 he is shown married with 3 daughter, one of whom is Hettie and a son Persey aged 5 months. In 1901 William aged 59 is living at 4 Arkwright street, Clayton with Hannah, Hettie and his grandson Herbert, aged 10.

In 1911, William now aged 69 is a widower and shown working as a Stuff Merchant and employer. Herbert is now 20 and working in the family firm as a Stuff Merchants Clerk and living at 4 Arkwright St. William passed away on 2nd Feb 1916.

Herberts mother Hettie Whaley was born in 1866, daughter of William Whaley and spent her childhood living on Reva Syke and in Clayton Lane. Hettie married Albert Pollard in July 1890 and moved to Cullingworth. The 1901 census shows, the now widowed, Hettie Pollard aged 35 living with her father at 4 Arkwright Street with 10 year old Herbert Pollard. Hettie remarried Skirrow Robertshaw in 1910 and is shown living at 42 Reva Syke.

Jo Whaley (Williams surviving younger brother) also married and lived in Clayton, starting out as a Solicitors Clerk. In 1901 Jo is shown as a Stuff Merchant and employer, the same trade as his brother William, it may be that they were partners in the family firm. Joe and his wife Sarah had two boys, Harold Whaley and Edward George Whaley.

Harold was killed in action on 25th May 1918 aged 35. WHALEY, Harold | Clayton Remembers

Hetty moved to Morcambe after the war and this is the correspondence address for Harold’s medals and her war widows pension.

Harold’s brother, Edward George was born in 1901 and so just missed being called up to fight in the 1914-18 war.