John Pollin 1898 – 1975
John was born in Spalding, Lincolnshire on 9th September 1898, to William and Frances Maud (née Whitaker). John was known as Jack.
In 1901 the family were living in Spalding, where William’s occupation was described as a clothier dealer. When the family moved to Shepherdswell they lived at Yewcroft, Church Hill from at least 1911 and throughout the War.
A Dover Express report on 27th November 1914 names Jack as the top scorer, with a full score of 50, in the Shepherdswell Rifle Club Junior Section. Further reports showed that he consistently attained top scores.
There are two records for a J Pollin who enlisted in The Buffs, with service nos. G/24208 and G/24206. It is not clear if this is the same person. The Dover Express of 23rd February 1917 shows that his father, who was then employing him, asked for and was granted an exemption of 2 months by the Military Tribunal, as his father had invented a motor plough and Jack was at that time learning how to drive in a London ‘motor school’. Jack must therefore not have joined up until at least April or May of 1917. His brother William Arnold was killed in action in 1918.
In 1924, he married Mildred E French in Steyning, Sussex, and in 1939 they lived in Hastings, with his job given as a billiard chalk manufacturer. He probably died in 1975 in Hastings, aged 77.