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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Nairobi South Cemetery, Kenya |
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Nairobi South Cemetery in Kenya.
Photo :
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
During the First World War, Nairobi was the headquarters of the King's African Rifles and became the main hospital centre for the East African campaign.
Nairobi South Cemetery contains 155 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, mostly in one section, interspersed by civilian graves. There are also two burials of the Second World War.
The cemetery also contains the Nairobi British and Indian Memorial, a screen wall which commemorates British and Indian officers and men who lost their lives in the East African campaign before the advance to the Rufiji in January 1917.
1 soldier of the Yorkshire Regiment is buried in this cemetery.
Although there are two photographs of this one soldier's headstone in the cemetery, the explanation for this has been provided by Paul Davis of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. See below.
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Serjeant Horace Pollin. 266388. Yorkshire Regiment, attd. 3rd/ 1st King's African Rifles. Died 25 November 1918. (Sgt Pollin's original regimental number was 2694. His name is also spelt as "Pollen") Photo : Tom Randolph of the Find a Greve website |
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Serjeant Horace Pollin. 266388. Yorkshire Regiment, attd. 3rd/ 1st King's African Rifles. Died 25 November 1918. (Sgt Pollin's original regimental number was 2694. His name is also spelt as "Pollen") Photo : Bob Barnes of the Find a Greve website |
Message from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission re Website Enquiry--00130792
Dear Mr Roberts,
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the photographs that you have provided
showing the headstones of Serjeant H Pollin in Nairobi South Cemetery.
Looking at the photographs, it appears that the headstone on the left is Sjt.
Pollin’s current headstone, which replaced the headstone in the picture
on the right.
Sjt. Pollin’s original headstone was replaced in 2003 as it had become
eroded beyond repair.
Just before the replacement of the headstone, it was also discovered that
the regiment name given on the original headstone was incorrect, as Sjt. Pollin
had been serving in the Yorkshire Regiment at the time of his death. Sjt.
Pollin had been attached to the King’s African Rifles, rather than this
being his primary regiment as incorrectly shown on his original headstone.
As this was the case, the replacement headstone is inscribed to show Sjt.
Pollin had served in the Yorkshire Regiment but was attached to the King’s
African Rifles. This also made a difference in the style of the religious
emblem used.
I should explain that the commanding officers of all regiments and corps were
consulted on the design of the badges to be used and the offer of a Broad
or Latin Cross, was made at this time.
The King’s African Rifles chose the narrower Latin Cross to be used on the headstones of their fallen, while the Yorkshire Regiment chose the Broad Cross design, which incorporated the regimental emblem into the design.
As Sjt. Pollin’s true regiment was the Yorkshire Regiment, the Broad Cross was engraved on his replacement headstone.
I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Davis
Customer Service Advisor