Beneath the Foliage: GLEN GORDON POPE & VERA MYRTLE nee POLLARD

Glen Gordon Pope and Vera Myrtle Pollard are my paternal grandparents.

Vera Myrtle Pollard was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 10 August 1894, the 6th child of 10 children of James William Pollard and Sarah Burton nee Morris.

Her siblings were James Burton, Elizabeth Rosetta, Bertram Benjamin, William John, Leslie Robert, Eileen, Stella, Joseph Franklin, and Muriel Agnes.

Vera’s father, James William Pollard was born on 7 February 1858 in St Just in Penwith, Cornwall, England. He and his family arrived in Australia in 1868.

James Pollard married Sarah Burton Morris in 1882.

James worked as a mine manager, and as such the family moved around with the work. I know at one stage they lived in Woods Point.

Sarah Burton Morris was born in 1862 in Moliagul, Central Goldfields, (Dunnolly) Victoria. This is a photo of her (on the left at the back)with her mother, sister and two sisters-in-law.

Her parents were Benjamin Morris and Elizabeth (nee Forrest). (photo below of Benjamin & Elizabeth Morris). Elizabeth died August 29, 1928, just 3 months after her husband died.

Vera worked as a laundress, and during World War 1, she was a pen friend and prolific letter writer to many servicemen serving in WW1, including her brothers and family members, and their friends.

Glen Gordon Pope, is the 6th child (5th son) of 8 children of Benjamin Pope and Emma Ferguson. He was born on 25th August 1895 in Kensington, South Australia. Siblings were William Peter, Keith Ferguson, Emma Verity Caroline, Albert John, Benjamin, Lydia Sarah, and Arthur Laurence.

As a teenager he had joined the Salvation Army along with his younger sister, Lydia Sarah. He worked as a gardener.

Glen Gordon Pope enlisted at Adelaide, SA, on 21 January 1916. Private G.G. Pope 4496 embarked the HMAT "Shropshire" 25 March 1916 and saw duty in Etaples, France. He returned to Australia 2 June 1919 aboard the "Beltana".

When he returned from war, he worked at the Morris Bros. Dairy in 370 Montague Street, Albert Park.

I have not been able to work out how Vera met her husband to be as he was a South

Australian lad, and she lived in Victoria. I do suspect, however, she might have met him at a rehabilitation centre for injured servicemen, perhaps at Greensborough?.

Glen Gordon Pope and Vera Myrtle Pollard were married on 15 November 1924.

Glen and Vera had 3 children together, Emma Bettine (Betty), Sarah Burton (Sadie) and Leslie Gordon (my father).

Glen Gordon Pope succumbed to his war injuries in July 1929, aged 34 years, when Leslie was just three months old.

The funeral left his residence Yuanga, 117 Page Street, Albert Park on Thursday 18 July 1929 arriving at Fawkner Cemetry. He is buried with his sister-in-law Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rosetta Pollard who had pre-deceased him in 1923.

Benjamin Pope, enlisted at Oaklands, SA on 22 January

Benjamin Pope

1915. aged 23 years.

Private B. Pope embarked HMAT "Geelong" on 31 May 1915.

Private B. Pope embarked the "Alexandria" 4 September 1915 to join MEF, Gallipoli.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 20 November 1915.

Returned to Australia 2 May 1919 aboard the "Port Macquarie

Vera married her brother-in-law, Benjamin, in 1935. It seemed to be a moral obligation and was the done thing in those days for the brothers to look after their widowed sisters-in-law.

Benjamin was a loving father to the children and brought them up as if they were his own. He worked for the Post Masters General Department as a technician.

Shortly after, they moved to West Preston where they lived for the next 26 and half years. Ben kept a beautiful garden. As well as growing delicious vegetables in the backyard, I can remember he grew stunning gladiolus and pansies. The front yard always looked so pretty. This photo does not do it justice. Sadly, this house is no longer there. It was purchased, then demolished to make way for a multi storey apartment block.