Born on 21 October 1875 the fifth child and fourth son of Samuel Pollard, a decorator, and his wife Mary Ann Marriott, he was educated at Nottingham grammar school and won an entrance scholarship to the London Hospital in 1894. After qualifying in 1899 he served as assistant medical officer to the N

Educated at University College Hospital he won an exhibition and a university gold medal. After qualifying in 1902, he was assistant house surgeon at Rotherham Hospital and house surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford. He practised for some years at York and later at Newcastle, St