Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Albert John Bollard
Ancestor's date of birth: 02/09/1875
Ancestor's date of death: 1953
Cause of Death: Not stated
Service Number: 87
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Picton
Unit: A Squadron, 1st NSW Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL, Date Effective: Detail not available
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): WO1, Date Effective: 1911
Murray Page: 33
Contingent: First New South Wales
Ship: Aberdeen, Date of Sailing: 03/11/1899
Memorial details: Perth, Western Australia
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Albert John Bollard joined the Mounted Rifles in 1896 and in 1897 was chosen, along with three other men from Picton to participate in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. He was a first class shot and an outstanding horseman.
Reasons to go and fight: Serving soldier.
Details of service in war: Pretoria, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Paardeburg, Orange free State, Transvaal and Orange River Colony. Actions also at Poplar Grove,Venterskroon and Wittebergen.
Service and life after the Boer War: Albert returned to Australia with the Squadron on the 8 January 1901. He then went back farming the family property at Stilton but found time to serve with the Mounted Rifles and was promoted to farrier sergeant. He won a prize at the Armidale Show with his locally bred horses in March 1905. He took up full time duty at the Regimental Headquarters in Camden. He was promoted to Warrant Officer and transferred to Perth WA in 1911 he became Chief Clerk. Albert married Ethel Rosina Stewart in 1928,there were no children from this marrage. He passed away in 1953 Perth Western Australia.
His descendant Brian Bollard wrote a book called 'The Bollards of Bedfordshire', from which some extracts have been taken.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Brian Bollard, Watson ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Great NephewName of Descendant: John Bollard, Downer ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
