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COMMANDER // 1786–1872

Sir George Pollock

field marshalUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland1 battle1 war

Lifespan

17861872

180018251850First Anglo-Afghan War · 1839-1842Battle of Kabul — January 1, 1842 · British Empire · First Anglo-Afghan War

Active service 18421 battle across 1 war; first command at age 56.

Profile

Field Marshal Sir George Pollock, 1st Baronet, was a British Indian Army officer. He first saw action at the Battle of Deeg and at the Siege of Bhurtpore during the Second Anglo-Maratha War before taking part in the Anglo-Nepalese War. He also commanded the British artillery at the Battle of Prome and at Bagan during the First Anglo-Burmese War. Following a disastrous retreat from Kabul in January 1842 during the First Anglo-Afghan War, the retreating forces became stranded at the small British garrison at Jalalabad and Pollock was appointed Commander of the Force sent to relieve the garrison: he advanced through the Khyber Pass and relieved the garrison in April 1842. He then set about an unauthorised but ultimately successful mission to rescue the British hostages who had been left behind in Kabul prior to the retreat. In 1844 the Pollock Medal was created to commemorate Pollock's achievements: this medal was to be awarded to the "best cadet of the season" at the Addiscombe Military Seminary.

Source · Wikipedia · Q438578

Battles (1)

Last verified June 2026
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