Eight: Captain C. E. Pollitt, Royal Naval Reserve

1914-15 Star (Mid. C. E. Pollitt, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (S.Lt. C. E. Pollitt. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals - The Property of a Gentleman.

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Cyril Edward Pollitt was born in London on 16 December 1897 and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as Temporary Midshipman on 23 April 1915. Posted to the battleship Dreadnought on 1 June 1915, he was stationed at Sheerness and served as part of a force of naval vessels intended to counter the threat of shore bombardment by German battlecruisers. During this time Dreadnought also fired her anti-aircraft guns at German aircraft that passed over her en route to London. Described as ‘reliable and intelligent’, Pollitt was demobilised on 14 May 1919.

He next joined the P. & O. Line as a Fourth Officer and rose to command the Empire Bing in 1944. Transferred to the liner Mooltan as Commander in 1949, he was appointed in Command of the liner Strathmaver in 1954 and engaged in numerous return voyages to Australia. According to the Bognor Regis Observer of 26 March 1959, Pollitt retired from the P. & O. Fleet as honorary Captain of the newly built Iberia. A short while later he decided to seek election to Bognor Urban Council for the Felpham Ward. Duly achieved, his time in public service was rather brief, the Bognor Regis Observer of 18 December 1959, adding: ‘His sudden passing cut short what would have been a very successful term of office.’