Accrington Web - View Single Post - Where are Thomas Pollard's journal and John Grimshaw's medals?

cimqag · 29-12-2009, 15:10

I have been researching Coldstream Guardsman Thomas Pollard, who fought in the Peninsular War (1809-14). He lived in Henry Street in Church until his death in December 1859. He was buried in St James' Churchyard in Church.

I recently managed to track down his nine-bar Military General Service Medal (one bar on the medal ribbon for each battle he was in) which was awarded to him in 1848 and saw it for the first time in December. It had been bought at auction in the 1970s. The medal has now been purchased by the Coldstream Guards Association for their collection.

Pollard also wrote a journal/memoirs. Extracts appeared in the Accrington Observer in 1941 when its then owner, also called Thomas Pollard (grandson of the above and headmaster of Church Kirk school) died at his home in Blackpool. Both medal and journal were together then and handed over to Church Urban District Council (now under Hyndburn District Council) but they became separated at some point and I have not been able to trace the journal’s whereabouts.

I tried the present local authorities, museums, local studies departments, county record office, The National Archives, National Army Museum, Guards Museum, Coldstream Guards Regimental HQ (all in London), medal collecting magazines, medal tracker in print and online.

I may be distantly related to Thomas Pollard's brother-in-law and Battle of Waterloo veteran, John Grimshaw. There is now a plaque installed at Immanuel Church in Oswaldtwistle where Grimshaw was buried in an unmarked grave. He too was awarded the Military General Service Medal (his had four bars) and the Waterloo Medal (1815). This was sold by Spinks medal dealers in 1973 but they do not keep records of buyers so far back. I have been unable to trace either of these medals.

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Thomas Pollard’s journal and John Grimshaw’s medals?

29-12-2009, 15:10	#1
cimqag Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Where are Thomas Pollard's journal and John Grimshaw's medals? I have been researching Coldstream Guardsman Thomas Pollard, who fought in the Peninsular War (1809-14). He lived in Henry Street in Church until his death in December 1859. He was buried in St James' Churchyard in Church. I recently managed to track down his nine-bar Military General Service Medal (one bar on the medal ribbon for each battle he was in) which was awarded to him in 1848 and saw it for the first time in December. It had been bought at auction in the 1970s. The medal has now been purchased by the Coldstream Guards Association for their collection. Pollard also wrote a journal/memoirs. Extracts appeared in the Accrington Observer in 1941 when its then owner, also called Thomas Pollard (grandson of the above and headmaster of Church Kirk school) died at his home in Blackpool. Both medal and journal were together then and handed over to Church Urban District Council (now under Hyndburn District Council) but they became separated at some point and I have not been able to trace the journal’s whereabouts. I tried the present local authorities, museums, local studies departments, county record office, The National Archives, National Army Museum, Guards Museum, Coldstream Guards Regimental HQ (all in London), medal collecting magazines, medal tracker in print and online. I may be distantly related to Thomas Pollard's brother-in-law and Battle of Waterloo veteran, John Grimshaw. There is now a plaque installed at Immanuel Church in Oswaldtwistle where Grimshaw was buried in an unmarked grave. He too was awarded the Military General Service Medal (his had four bars) and the Waterloo Medal (1815). This was sold by Spinks medal dealers in 1973 but they do not keep records of buyers so far back. I have been unable to trace either of these medals. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Thomas Pollard’s journal and John Grimshaw’s medals?