Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

PRE WAR:

Clarence “Clarrie” Pollard was born 30th May 1924, and has described himself as a Payneham boy through and through. He grew up in a house located on Second Avenue, South Payneham and was educated at Norwood Junior Technical School.

WAR YEARS

At the beginning of WWII Clarence “Clarrie” Pollard was 15 years old and working as an apprentice Carpenter Joiner with Almond and Paterson located on Osmond Terrace, Norwood.

Upon turning 18 he decided to join RAAF, enlisting on the 30th June 1942. During the war Clarrie had many postings for training qualifying as a Flight Rigger and later an Aircraft Fitter. During operations he served overseas with 22nd Squadron on Moratai, Tarakan and Labuan islands earning him the Pacific Star and 1939-45 Star.

POST WAR

On completion of WWII, Clarrie sign on for further service in the in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan. The BCOF marked the first time that Australians were involved in the military occupation of a sovereign nation which it had defeated in war. BCOF participation in the Allied occupation force was announced on 31 January 1946, though planning and negotiations had been in progress since the end of the war. The main body of Australian troops arrived in Japan on 21 February.

The entire BCOF force totaled 45,000, from Britain, India, New Zealand, and Australia. About 16,000 Australians served in BCOF, including an infantry contingent of 4,700, base units consisting of 5,300, an air force wing of 2,200, and 130 from the Australian General Hospital. The RAAF component was stationed at Bofu, in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

In 1947 Clarrie decided to leave the Air Force and return to civilian life. He found work back in his pre-war trade working with a few different builders on a number of projects before being employed by the Adelaide City Council. Clarrie spent the next 32 years working with the council in a number of positions including 4 years as a carpenter, 6 years as a leading carpenter (supervisor). In aproximatly 1950 he was promoted to “Staff” as the Roadwork’s Maintenance Foreman. Clarrie’s final position was as the Senior Roadwork’s Operator from which he retired in 1982.

Some of the projects Clarrie was involved in were the conversion of Rundle Street into Rundle Mall, 1975, and the original removal of the trams from King William Street. In talking with Clarrie, he has indicated that the Adelaide City Council conducted an interview with him and stored some records of his work.

In 2011 Clarrie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to the community.  One organisation he has been extremely active in is the Returned and Services League (RSL). Clarrie joined the Payneham RSL in 1946 and has been a continual member ever since, becoming a life member in 2005.

A full list of Clarries post war achievements to date:      

·       President, Payneham Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 1995-2009; Committee Member, for 16 years; Life Member; and Member for 68 years.

·       Life Member, Payneham Football Club; player and official, for 38 years. Committee Member, Payneham Sports Association, for 20 years.

·       Life Member, Glynde Sports and Social Club.

·       Member, Payneham Cricket Club.

·       Treasurer, Payneham Probus Club, 2008-2009; President, 1991 and 1998; Tours Officer, for 4 years; Committee Member; and Member, for 25 years.

·       Board Member, Eldercare, 1975-1994.

·       Elder, Uniting Church Congregation, for 21 years.

·       Committee Chairman, Trowbridge House Retirement Homes, 1990-1996.

·       Board Member, Payneham Dudley Park Cemeteries Trust Inc. since 1995.

·       Committee Member. Jubilee Committee, City of Payneham Council, 1984; Committee Member, Bicentenary, 1988. M W ' Committee Member, Neighbourhood Watch; Zone Leader, for 6 years.

·       Committee Member, Hectorville Primary School, for 10 years.

·       President, Employees Social Club, Adelaide City Council, for 12 years; Member, for 29 years. President, Employees Sick and Accident Committee, Adelaide City Council, for 12 years; Member, for 29 years.

·       Treasurer, Town Hall Social Club, Adelaide City Council, for 2 years; Member, for 8 years.

·       President, Adelaide City Council Branch, Municipal Officers Association, for 4 years; Member,

·       for 12 years; Member, State Branch, for 11 years. .

·       Awards/recognition include:

·       Citizen of the Year, City of Payneham, 1989.