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, and later at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[1]

Foundation

In 1844, the British inhabitants of Calcutta raised a subscription of 11,000 rupees to commemorate General George Pollock’s victories in Afghanistan after the disastrous retreat of the British army of occupation from Kabul in January 1842. This was to consist of a medal to be presented twice a year “to the most distinguished cadet at the East India Company’s Military Seminary, at Addiscombe, near Croydon in England, on passing the biennial examination for a commission.”

Description

The original Pollock Prize
The reverse of the original Pollock Prize

The original medal, with a weight of 2oz and valued at sixteen guineas, was designed by General Macleod and was first presented in December 1847, with the following inscription:

To commemorate eminent services

Major-General Sir George Pollock, K.C.B.

Bengal Artillery, Cabul 1842

Treachery avenged – British honour vindicated – Disasters retrieved – British captives delivered – Khyber Pass forced – Jellalabad relieved – Victories of Mamoo Khail, Jugdulluck, Tezeen, Istaliff

And on the reverse:

Military Seminary, Addiscombe

Pollock Prize

Presented by the British Inhabitants of Calcutta, and Awarded by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to the most distinguished Cadet of the Season.

Changes

In 1861, the Secretary of State for India, who was now responsible for the management of Indian affairs after the British government had taken India over from the East India Company, decided to have a new medal of a smaller size. The medal was valued at twelve guineas, and part of the inscription recording the services of Sir George Pollock and his army was omitted.

The new version continued to have the portrait of Sir George Pollock but with the inscription:

Pollock, Cabul, 1842

And on its reverse:

Pollock Prize, Royal Military Academy

Founded by the British inhabitants of Calcutta to commemorate the eminent services of Major-General Sir George Pollock, G.C.B., and awarded to the most distinguished Cadet of the season

Although Sir George Pollock was not consulted over the changes, he continued to present the medal in person whenever his health allowed him until 4 months before his death, when he presented it to John Copsey Addison in June 1872.

In 1861 the East India Company handed over control of its Indian possessions to the British government and the East India Company's military units were incorporated into the British army. The Military Seminary at Addiscombe was closed and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich took over the training of new officers.

After the Second World War, the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich and the Royal Military College Sandhurst were amalgamated to become the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which now presents the top cadet with the Queen's Medal.

Holders

The following is the roll of Pollock Medalists until February 1875 as recorded on tablets fixed on the walls of the great dining hall of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich:

Awarded at Addiscombe

NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO
Edward C.S. Williams June, 1848 Bengal Engineers James J. Mc. L. Innes December, 1848 Bengal Engineers
Thomas G. Montgomerie June, 1849 Bengal Engineers George A. Craster December, 1849 Bengal Engineers
Patrick Stewart June, 1850 Bengal Engineers Frederick S. Stanton December, 1850 Bengal Engineers
Henry Goodwyn June, 1851 Ditto James P. Basevi December, 1851 Bengal Engineers
Arthur M. Lang June, 1852 Bengal Engineers Salisbury M. Trevor December, 1852 Bengal Engineers
John U. Champain June, 1853 Bengal Engineers Edward R. Holland December, 1853 Bombay Engineers
William Jeffreys June, 1854 Bengal Engineers Aeneas R. R. Macdonald December, 1854 Tempry. Commission H.E.I.Co’s Engrs.
Charles H. Luard June, 1855 Bengal Engineers John Eckford December, 1855 Bengal Engineers
John M. McNeile June, 1856 Bengal Engineers John Herschel December, 1856 Bengal Engineers
Keith A. Jopp June, 1857 Bombay Engineers Lewis C. Gordon December, 1857 Bengal Engineers
William M. Campbell June, 1858 Bombay Engineers William H. Pierson December, 1858 Bengal Engineers
Arthur W. Elliot June, 1859 Not appointed – resigned the service William Shepherd December, 1859 Bengal Engineers
Allan J. C. Cunningham June, 1860 Bengal Engineers Kellow C. Pye December, 1860 Royal Engineers
William J. Williamson June, 1861 General List, Royal Infantry

Awarded at Woolwich

NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO
Clayton S. Beauchamp December, 1861 Royal Engineers
Thomas Fraser June, 1862 Royal Engineers Valentine F. Rowe December, 1862 Royal Engineers
Herbert P. Knocker June, 1863 Royal Engineers Francis Mascall December, 1863 Royal Engineers
Henry R. G. Georges June, 1864 Royal Engineers William G. Nicholson December, 1864 Royal Engineers
Sydney L. Jacob June, 1865 Royal Engineers Charles M. Watson December, 1865 Royal Engineers
John E. Broadbent June, 1866 Royal Engineers Harry M. Chambers December, 1866 Royal Engineers
Felician R. de Wolski June, 1867 Royal Engineers Francis J. Day December, 1867 Royal Engineers
George S. Clarke June, 1868 Royal Engineers Henry H. S. Cunynghame December, 1868 Royal Engineers
Henry J. Harman June, 1869 Royal Engineers Richard de Villamil December, 1869 Royal Engineers
Herbert C. Chermside June, 1870 Royal Engineers Phillip Cardew December, 1870 Royal Engineers
Henry G. Kunhardt June, 1871 Royal Engineers Henry E. McCallum February, 1872 Royal Engineers
John C. Addison June, 1872 Royal Engineers William C. Godsal October, 1872 Royal Engineers
Henry D. Love February, 1873 Royal Engineers John C. Campbell June, 1973 Royal Engineers
Matthew H. P. R. Sankey October, 1873 Royal Engineers Charles F. Hadden February, 1874 Royal Artillery
Hugh M. Sinclair July, 1874 Royal Engineers Maurice A. Cameron February, 1875 Royal Engineers
Herbert J Foster July, 1875 Royal Engineers Vincent H P Caillard February, 1876 Royal Engineers
James H Cowan July, 1876 Royal Engineers William H Turton February, 1877 Royal Engineers
Alfred P Codd July, 1877 Royal Engineers Henry D Laffan December, 1877 Royal Engineers
Edward Agar April, 1878 Royal Engineers Alfred M Mantell July, 1878 Royal Engineers
Stuart Davidson December, 1878 Royal Engineers John Winn April, 1879 Royal Engineers
James Dallas July, 1879 Royal Engineers Edward H Hemming February, 1880 Royal Engineers
Matthew Nathan May, 1880 Royal Engineers William F H S Kincaid July, 1880 Royal Engineers
Cecil Hill February, 1881 Royal Engineers James E Edmonds July, 1881 Royal Engineers
James R L Macdonald February, 1882 Royal Engineers Ronald J H Mackenzie July, 1882 Royal Engineers
George A S Stone February, 1883 Royal Engineers Walter G Lawrie July, 1883 Royal Engineers
James H L'E Johnstone February, 1884 Royal Engineers Charles F Close July, 1884 Royal Engineers
Edward A Edgell December, 1884 Royal Engineers Hugh B Williams April, 1885 Royal Engineers
G P Lenox-Conyngham September, 1885 Royal Engineers H M St A Wade February, 1886 Royal Engineers
Chas. H Versturme July, 1886 Royal Engineers Theodore E Naish February, 1887 Royal Engineers
Reginald F G Bond July, 1887 Royal Engineers E G Godfrey-Faussett February, 1888 Royal ydneyEngineers
W M Coldstream July, 1888 Royal Engineers Bertram H Rooke February, 1889 Royal Engineers
James M C Colvin July, 1889 Royal Engineers Joseph F W Johnson February, 1890 Royal Engineers
Edward H M Leggett July, 1890 Royal Engineers Sydney G Faber February, 1891 Royal Engineers
Reginald Polwhell July, 1891 Royal Engineers Alexander W H Grubb February, 1892 Royal Engineers
Charles E Vickers July, 1892 Royal Engineers Walter C Symon February, 1893 Royal Artillery
Edmund T Rich July, 1893 Royal Engineers John B Corry February, 1894 Royal Engineers
Arthur ff Garrett August, 1894 Royal Engineers Harry O Mance March, 1895 Royal Engineers
Lambert C Jackson August, 1895 Royal Engineers H de L Pollard-Lowsey December, 1895 Royal Engineers
Robert H Thomas June, 1896 Royal Engineers David Forster December, 1896 Royal Engineers
Charles W Biggs June, 1897 Royal Engineers Charles M Browne December, 1897 Royal Engineers
Phillip O G Usborne June, 1898 Royal Engineers Kenneth E Edgeworth December, 1898 Royal Engineers
Charles Hordern June, 1899 Royal Engineers Christopher C Trench December, 1899 Royal Engineers
Malcolm N MacLeod April, 1900 Royal Engineers Edgar W Cox December, 1900 Royal Engineers
J A B P Bowen July, 1901 Royal Engineers C W Bushell December, 1901 Royal Engineers
E H G Kirke July, 1902 Royal Engineers C R Satterthwaite December, 1902 Royal Engineers
E V Binney July, 1903 Royal Engineers R H Stallard December, 1903 Royal Engineers
D G Courtney July, 1904 Royal Engineers R S Ryan December, 1904 Royal Artillery
E M Sinauer July, 1905 Royal Engineers R Hamilton December, 1905 Royal Engineers
A Carrow July, 1906 Royal Engineers C G Moores December, 1906 Royal Engineers
F V B Witts July, 1907 Royal Engineers R L Almond December, 1907 Royal Engineers
J P S Greig July, 1908 Royal Engineers R P Pakenham-Walsh December, 1908 Royal Engineers
C L T Matheson July, 1909 Royal Engineers R G W H Stone December, 1909 Royal Engineers
C J S King July, 1910 Royal Engineers W O Winter December, 1910 Royal Engineers
E de S Rideout July, 1911 Royal Engineers W E Euler December, 1911 Royal Engineers
A B Aitken July, 1912 Royal Engineers G L Miller December, 1912 Royal Engineers
E F Tickell July, 1913 Royal Engineers H P W Hutson December, 1913 Royal Engineers
A D Panke July, 1914 Royal Engineers H A J Parsons December, 1914 Royal Engineers
J F M Whiteley June, 1915 Royal Engineers D L Middlemas December, 1915 Royal Engineers
E G FitzHenry June, 1916 Royal Engineers R W P Yates December, 1916 Royal Engineers
D Adamson June, 1917 Royal Engineers S G Galpin December, 1917 Royal Engineers
E I C Jacob June, 1918 Royal Engineers W G C Glossop December, 1918 Royal Artillery
J A Sinclair June, 1919 Royal Artillery A H G Napier December, 1919 Royal Engineers
W H Ray December, 1919 Royal Engineers E W Daldy July, 1920 Royal Engineers
Not Issued December, 1920 G N Tuck July, 1921 Royal Engineers
N A M Swettenham December, 1921 Royal Engineers A J H Dove July, 1922 Royal Engineers
J B Tupman December, 1922 Royal Field Artillery L R E Fayle July, 1923 Royal Engineers
E L Kellett December, 1923 Royal Engineers A W Kiggell July, 1924 Royal Engineers
J C R Fitzgerald-Lombard December, 1924 Royal Engineers W F Anderson July, 1925 Royal Engineers
C P Jones December, 1925 Royal Engineers J P Chapman December, 1925 Royal Engineers
W B Sallitt July, 1926 Royal Engineers M C Perceval December, 1926 Royal Engineers

The above two lists are taken from the "Memoir to Illustrate the Origin and Foundation of the Pollock Medal",[2] although anonymous, probably written by Field Marshal Sir Lintorn Simmons. Updated March 2016 by the son (see edit history for contact information) of the December 1928 recipient to include recipients after July 1875 using supplementary pages in his father's copy of the book. The following list was created from the RMAS Old College Notice Board. Note that in December 1925 there were two classes commissioned (Last of 4-term; first of 3-term.)

NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO
R W Ewbank July, 1927 Royal Engineers A E H Hamilton December, 1927 Royal Artillery
H E C de Chassiron July, 1928 Royal Artillery W H C Travers December, 1928 Royal Engineers
K R Brazier-Creagh 1929 Royal Artillery P G Hatch 1929 Royal Engineers
J G McKendrick 1930 Royal Engineers A P Lavies 1930 Royal Engineers
A H G Dobson 1931 Royal Engineers D C Cameron 1931 Royal Engineers
A F Bell 1932 Royal Engineers H L Lloyd 1932 Royal Engineers
R L White 1933 Royal Engineers H R Carr 1933 Royal Engineers
T G H Kirkwood 1934 Royal Engineers A C Lewis 1934 Royal Engineers
E M Hall 1935 Royal Engineers J E L Carter 1935 Royal Engineers
R N K Barge 1936 Royal Engineers J M Flint 1936 Royal Engineers
D Ross 1937 Royal Engineers R F Harris 1937 Royal Engineers
M H D Lovell 1938 Royal Artillery J R E Hamilton 1938 Royal Engineers
D J Willison 1939 Royal Engineers

With the start of World War II, the course ceased and in 1937 the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and Royal Military College Sandhurst were combined to be RMAS. Sandhurst now presents the top cadet with the Queen's Medal.

Research has uncovered other recipients of the Pollock medal:

NAME AWARDED GAZETTED TO SOURCE
Hubert John Foster 1876? Royal Engineers, January 1875 Australian Dictionary of Biography
Matthew Nathan 1880 Royal Engineers May 1880 Jewish Encyclopedia
James Edward Edmonds 1881 Royal Engineers July 1881 University of Birmingham
J F W Johnson 1884 Little Stour Books - memoir listed in catalogue
G P Lenox-Conyngham 1885 Royal Engineers Biographic Memoir by E.C. Bullard
James Morris Colquhoun Colvin 1889 Royal Engineers July 1889 Royal Engineers Museum
Edmund Tillotson Rich R.Polwhele 23 July 1891 . Subsequently RE Railway Staff died Sudan MID Despatches Maj Gen H.H. Kitchener 30 Sep1896 Royal Engineers July 1893 Royal Geographical Society
Kenneth Essex Edgeworth ? Royal Engineers 1900 Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides (IMCCE)/CERES 2001
Rowland Latimer Almon 1907 Royal Engineers 1907 Lorettonian Society
John Edward Lovelace Carter 1935 Royal Engineers
John Robert Edward Hamilton-Baillie 1938 Royal Engineers 1939 Obituaries in The Times and Daily Telegraph
David Willison 1939 Royal Engineers 1938 Obituary in The Times

Source A Copy of the "Memoir to illustrate the origin and foundation of the Pollock Medal" given to H D Love (1873 recipient) by Lt Gen Simmons and currently held by Capt. S Marshall RE (Gt.Gt.Granddaughter of HD Love).

Notes

  1. ↑ The Pollock Medal by Stan Gordon
  2. ↑ Memoir to Illustrate the Origin and Foundation of the Pollock Medal, (Boddy and Co., Military Publishers, Woolwich, 1875)
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