Private John Pollock
John Pollock was born on 28 June 1895 at Oldtown, Bellaghy, County Londonderry, the first of five children of farmer George Pollock and his wife Agnes (née Overend). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Oldtown with his parents and siblings and working on the family farm.
Pollock enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Kilrea on 25 July 1914 (No.956). In December 1914 he embarked for England with D Squadron, where they were billeted at Cople, Bedford awaiting orders for France.
While there, however, Pollock fell ill. He was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where on 1 February 1915 his case was assessed by a medical board. Pollock, the board reported, had had:
Pleurisy [a] year ago, cough ever since. Haemoptysis 2 or 3 times about Xmas 1914 while training at Cople, Bedford. Since then irregular temp, night sweats, loss of weight 10 lbs have been chief symptoms. He says his Father & Sister are suffering from Consumption at present
The board concluded that Pollock had tuberculosis, aggravated but not caused by his military service.
Pollock was discharged, being no longer physically fit for service (paragraph 392 xvi, King's Regulations), on 15 February 1915. His character was recorded as "very good".