George Pollock
Encyclopedia
Field Marshal
Sir George Pollock, 1st Baronet, GCB
, GCSI
(4 June 1786 – 6 October 1872) was a British
soldier.
His first action was the Battle of Deig (November 1804), against the Mahrattas under Holkar
and he was present at the siege of Bhurtpore
(January – February 1805).
After a period of staff appointments, he took part in the 1814–16 Nepal War. He returned to his staff duties until 1824 when he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. At this time he was ordered to take sick-leave in England but he managed to be appointed to the British forces taking part in the First Anglo-Burmese War during which he played a conspicuous role which won him the CB
.
He returned to England in 1827 on sick leave where he remained until 1830 when he was posted to Cawnpor. He received his King's commission as Colonel
in 1835 and in 1838 became Brigadier-General in Dinapore. That same year he became Major-General.
In 1838, Lord Auckland
, the Governor-General
of India
decided to invade Afghanistan
to proclaim a pro-British former ruler as king of Afghanistan. The initial campaign was a success but at the end of 1841, faced with ever-increasing hostility from the Afghans, the military and political leaders decided to withdraw the 5,000 British and Indian troops and 12000 camp-followers, wives and children from Kabul
and to return to India. The retreat was a disaster and eventually led to a massacre
because of inefficient leadership, the cold and the ferocious tribes. There was now almost nothing between the Afghanistan forces and India except for the small British garrison at Jallalabad. Legend has it that only one (Dr. Brydon
) survived; in fact he was the only one to reach the British garrison at Jallalabad (or Jellalabad) in January 1842 — several others had been taken prisoner and many were later found destitute in the streets of Kabul. Pollock was appointed Commander of the Force sent to relieve Jallabad. He advanced through the Khyber Pass
to Jellalabad, whose garrison he relieved in April after defeating an enemy force of 10,000 for the loss of 135.
At this moment General Nott
, who had advanced from India to Kandahar
through Quetta
, was authorised to retreat to India through Kabul and Pollock was authorised to do what was necessary to protect the British troops. Both generals took advantage of the badly-written orders to advance on Kabul. Pollock reached Kabul on September 15 after fighting the battles of Jugdulluck Pass and Tezeen, and Nott arrived on September 17, after fighting the battle of Ghuzmee.
Meanwhile the Afghan leader had fled towards Turkhistan with his prisoners, and Pollock ordered his military secretary, Sir Richmond Shakespeare, to rescue them, with Sir Robert Sale, the commander of the Jellalabad garrison, in support. Shakespeare caught up with them on the 17th and delivered them to Sale on the 20th. Amongst the rescued captives was Sale's own wife and daughter.
Pollock and Nott withdrew to India in October after destroying the great Bazaar. Once again they had to fight their way through the Khyber Pass. Pollock's division passed through with the loss of one or two men, but the other divisions did not take the same precautions and suffered more, but in any case the "retreat" had been another great victory.
In 1844 the British residents in Calcutta created the Pollock Medal
to commemorate Pollock's achievements. This medal was to be awarded to the "best cadet of the season" at the Addiscombe Military Academy
.
George Pollock retired in 1870 with the rank of field marshal and was made Constable of the Tower
in 1871. He was awarded the GCSI in 1861 and the GCB
in 1873, and made a baronet
in 1872. Sir George died on 6 October 1872 in Walmer
in Kent
, and is buried in Westminster Abbey
with a memorial crafted by the sculptor E. J. Physick.
Pollock's elder brother Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet
served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
and was the grandfather of Ernest Murray Pollock, 1st Viscount Hanworth, Master of the Rolls
.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Sir George Pollock, 1st Baronet, GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, GCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(4 June 1786 – 6 October 1872) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier.
Military career
Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Pollock was commissioned into the Bengal Artillery in 1803.His first action was the Battle of Deig (November 1804), against the Mahrattas under Holkar
Holkar
The Holkar dynasty , whose earliest known clan-man was Malhar Rao, who joined the service of the Peshwa in 1721, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar...
and he was present at the siege of Bhurtpore
Bharatpur, India
Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733. Located in the Brij region, Bharatpur was once an impregnable, well-planned and well-fortified city, and the capital of Jat kingdom ruled by Sinsinwar Maharajas.The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and...
(January – February 1805).
After a period of staff appointments, he took part in the 1814–16 Nepal War. He returned to his staff duties until 1824 when he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. At this time he was ordered to take sick-leave in England but he managed to be appointed to the British forces taking part in the First Anglo-Burmese War during which he played a conspicuous role which won him the CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
He returned to England in 1827 on sick leave where he remained until 1830 when he was posted to Cawnpor. He received his King's commission as Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1835 and in 1838 became Brigadier-General in Dinapore. That same year he became Major-General.
In 1838, Lord Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, GCB, PC was a British Whig politician and colonial administrator. He was thrice First Lord of the Admiralty and also served as Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842....
, the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
decided to invade Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to proclaim a pro-British former ruler as king of Afghanistan. The initial campaign was a success but at the end of 1841, faced with ever-increasing hostility from the Afghans, the military and political leaders decided to withdraw the 5,000 British and Indian troops and 12000 camp-followers, wives and children from Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
and to return to India. The retreat was a disaster and eventually led to a massacre
Massacre of Elphinstone's Army
The Massacre of Elphinstone's Army was the destruction by Afghan forces, led by Akbar Khan, the son of Dost Mohammad Khan, of a combined British and Indian force of the British East India Company, led by Major General William Elphinstone, in January 1842....
because of inefficient leadership, the cold and the ferocious tribes. There was now almost nothing between the Afghanistan forces and India except for the small British garrison at Jallalabad. Legend has it that only one (Dr. Brydon
William Brydon
William Brydon CB was an assistant surgeon in the British East India Company Army during the First Anglo-Afghan War and is famous for being the only member of an army of 4,500 men to reach safety in Jalalabad at the end of the long retreat from Kabul.He was born in London of Scottish descent...
) survived; in fact he was the only one to reach the British garrison at Jallalabad (or Jellalabad) in January 1842 — several others had been taken prisoner and many were later found destitute in the streets of Kabul. Pollock was appointed Commander of the Force sent to relieve Jallabad. He advanced through the Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass, is a mountain pass linking Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Pass was an integral part of the ancient Silk Road. It is mentioned in the Bible as the "Pesh Habor," and it is one of the oldest known passes in the world....
to Jellalabad, whose garrison he relieved in April after defeating an enemy force of 10,000 for the loss of 135.
At this moment General Nott
William Nott
Sir William Nott GCB was a British military leader in British India.- Early life :Nott was born in 1782, near Neath in Wales, the second son of Charles Nott, a Herefordshire farmer, who in 1794 became an innkeeper of the Ivy Bush Inn at Carmarthen in Wales...
, who had advanced from India to Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
through Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, was authorised to retreat to India through Kabul and Pollock was authorised to do what was necessary to protect the British troops. Both generals took advantage of the badly-written orders to advance on Kabul. Pollock reached Kabul on September 15 after fighting the battles of Jugdulluck Pass and Tezeen, and Nott arrived on September 17, after fighting the battle of Ghuzmee.
Meanwhile the Afghan leader had fled towards Turkhistan with his prisoners, and Pollock ordered his military secretary, Sir Richmond Shakespeare, to rescue them, with Sir Robert Sale, the commander of the Jellalabad garrison, in support. Shakespeare caught up with them on the 17th and delivered them to Sale on the 20th. Amongst the rescued captives was Sale's own wife and daughter.
Pollock and Nott withdrew to India in October after destroying the great Bazaar. Once again they had to fight their way through the Khyber Pass. Pollock's division passed through with the loss of one or two men, but the other divisions did not take the same precautions and suffered more, but in any case the "retreat" had been another great victory.
In 1844 the British residents in Calcutta created the Pollock Medal
Pollock Medal
The Pollock Medal is a prize awarded to the best cadet of the season, in commemoration of Sir George Pollock's exploits in Afghanistan, first at the East India Company's Military Seminary, at Addiscombe Military Academy, and later at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.- Foundation :In 1844, the...
to commemorate Pollock's achievements. This medal was to be awarded to the "best cadet of the season" at the Addiscombe Military Academy
Addiscombe Military Academy
The East India Company Military Seminary, colloquially known as Addiscombe Seminary, Addiscombe College, or Addiscombe Military Academy was a British military academy at Addiscombe, Surrey, in what is now the London Borough of Croydon. It was established in 1809, and closed in 1861...
.
George Pollock retired in 1870 with the rank of field marshal and was made Constable of the Tower
Constable of the Tower
The Constable of the Tower is the most senior appointment at the Tower of London. In the middle ages a constable was the person in charge of a castle when the owner - the king or a nobleman - was not in residence...
in 1871. He was awarded the GCSI in 1861 and the GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1873, and made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1872. Sir George died on 6 October 1872 in Walmer
Walmer
Walmer is a town in the district of Dover, Kent in England: located on the coast, the parish of Walmer is six miles north-east of Dover. Largely residential, its coastline and castle attract many visitors...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and is buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
with a memorial crafted by the sculptor E. J. Physick.
Pollock's elder brother Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet
Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet
Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet PC , was a British lawyer and Tory politician.-Background and education:...
served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...
and was the grandfather of Ernest Murray Pollock, 1st Viscount Hanworth, Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
.
Sources
- Heathcote, T. A., The British Field Marshals 1736 - 1997, Leo Cooper, 1999, ISBN 0 850526965
- Low, Charles The Afghan War 1838-1842 (London, 1879)
- Low, Charles Life and Correspondence of Sir George Pollock (London, 1873)
- Sir JW KayeJohn William KayeSir John William Kaye was a British military historian.The son of Charles Kaye, a solicitor, he was educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military College, Addiscombe. From 1832 to 1841 he was an officer in the Bengal Artillery, afterwards spending some years in literary pursuits both in...
History of the War in Afghanistan (2 vols., London, 1851) - Joseph GreenwoodJoseph GreenwoodJoseph Greenwood was a soldier and New Zealand politician. He joined the 31st Regiment of Foot in Bengal, India, where he greatly distinguished himself as a Lieutenant, under General George Pollock in the First Anglo-Afghan War, and wrote an account which was considered an authority on the...
Narrative of the Late Victorious Campaign in Afghanistan under General Pollock, (London, 1844)