Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Captain M. B. Pollard-Urquhart, 8th Laird of Craigston, Royal Navy, late Army Service Corps, Scottish Rifles and Imperial Yeomanry, who was captured by the Boers at Lindley on 31 May 1900.

A popular and humble man, he served in two wars as a soldier, but died in his third war as an Ordinary Seaman

1914-15 Star (Lieut. M. B. Pollard-Urquhart. A.S.C.) nearly extremely fine £100-£140

Michael Bruce Pollard-Urquhart was born in Bangalore, India, on 15 August 1879. Educated at Tonbridge and Repton Schools, he attested at London on 28 February 1900 for the 47th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, serving in South Africa from 1 April 1900 to 29 November 1900. Present at Lindley, he witnessed five days of heavy fighting before capture and three months of incarceration; British casualties amounted to 23 killed in action and 57 wounded.

Originally nominated for a commission in the 20th Hussars, Pollard-Urquhart was instead appointed Second Lieutenant in the Scottish Rifles. He later returned to his coffee mills in Pollohatta, India, but was soon recalled to service in France during the Great War from 25 September 1915. Sent to No. 6 Supply Depot, Army Service Corps, Pollard-Urquhart was raised Captain and in 1916 succeeded his uncle, the Reverend Arthur de Capel Broke Pollard-Urquhart - popularly known as ‘Father Jerome’ - as the 8th Laird of Craigston (Aberdeenshire).

With the title also came considerable history, wealth and responsibility; Pollard-Urquart soon took on the management of Craigston Castle, built in the 17th century, with ownership of the land stretching back to 1357 with Adam Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty. A popular Laird amongst the people of Turriff, Pollard-Urquhart became Justice of the Peace for Aberdeenshire and district commissioner of the Boy Scouts. He also took a great interest in the Turriff Golf Club and was a member of St. Congan’s Episcopal Church. As war with Germany loomed large once more, he joined the Observer Corps and then volunteered for shore-based naval duties. Appointed Ordinary Seaman (C/JX.222568), a 60 year-old Pollard-Urquhart was placed on motor transport work, but his service was cut short by pneumococcal meningitis. He died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 28 November 1940 and is buried in King Edward’s Old Churchyard, Aberdeenshire.