Private Norman F Pollard

Private Norman Francis Pollard was the son of John Henry and Hannah Mary Pollard and came from Middlesborough. He enlisted into the Green Howards during World War II and served with the 10th (East Riding Yeomanry) Battalion. 

In May 1943 the Battalion was renamed the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion and  turned over to airborne duties forming part of the 5th Parachute Brigade within the 6th Airborne Division. 

Pte Pollard attended parachute training course 69 at RAF Ringway which ran from 21 June to 1 July 1943. The course cadre comprised of 15 Officers and 163 Other Ranks from the Battalion. The men completed 1,257 jumps; 13 Officers and 137 Other Ranks passed the course including Pte Pollard.

Pte Pollard parachuted into Normandy with the Battalion on D-Day 6 June 1944.

The 12th Battalion captured Ranville despite its scattered drop and held it against repeated German counter-attacks as well as relieving the glider borne elements at Pegasus Bridge. It fought around Breville and formed part of the break-out to the Seine with the 6th Airborne Division in August, after which it was returned to England.

Pte Pollard was engaged with the Battalion during the winter of 1944-5 fighting in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge.

He was killed shortly after jumping on Operation VARSITY fighting to secure the Rhine Crossings.

Pte Pollard died on 24 March 1945, aged 20 years, and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.