Arthur Michell Pollard: Dental Surgeon to the Government, Zanzibar

by Iqra Khan

In our collections, we discovered an O.B.E., two war medals, a glass name plaque, and an X-ray shield, all associated with Arthur Michell Pollard. Awarded the O.B.E. in 1959, Pollard appears to have been both a dedicated dental surgeon and a contributor to Britain’s war and post-war efforts. Although information about him remains limited, this small collection of items helps paint a rough picture of his life and service. This blog post explores these items, and the context they offer, to piece together what we know so far.

O.B.E. and Military Medals (Catalogue Number: 087)

Born in 1912 in Nairobi, Arthur Michell Pollard was appointed O.B.E. (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) Civil Division on 1 Jan 1959. According to the Supplement to the London Gazette (1959), he served as a dental surgeon for the Government in Zanzibar, then a British protectorate. It is likely this work, combined with his wartime service, earned him the O.B.E.

The O.B.E. Certificate

O.B.E. Award: Arthur Michell Pollard (Catalogue Number: 084)

The O.B.E. certificate, printed on heavy cardstock and embossed with the seal of the Order, bears the signatures of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It officially grants Arthur Michell Pollard (Dental Surgeon to the Government, Zanzibar), the dignity of an Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire, awarded in 1959.

The Order of the British Empire was founded as part of the civil division awards in 1917 by King George V to recognise service to the arts, sciences, charity, public service, commerce, and other non-military achievements. The O.B.E. that Pollard received ranks at the third level in the Order’s hierarchy of civil division honours after the KBE/ DBE and CBE. In 1959, when Pollard was awarded his honour, these awards also acknowledged post-war reconstruction efforts and contributions to improving public health. Honours were typically announced in the Queen’s New Year or Birthday Honours list and presented at Buckingham Palace.

OBE and Military Medals

O.B.E. and Military Medals (Catalogue Number: 087)

The collection also includes three medals, pinned together and housed in a rectangular leather case embossed with “O.B.E.” Although we cannot say with absolute certainty they all belonged to Pollard, their provenance suggests they likely did.

O.B.E. Medal: The star-shaped civil division medal, inscribed For God and the Empire, is housed in the leather case. The inside features golden silk lining with the Royal Mint emblem, and an instructional card on how to wear and care for the medal, even after the recipient’s death.
Defence Medal: The green and orange striped ribbon is the defence medal, with one side having King George VI’s image with "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP" inscribed on it, and the other side having two lions flanking a crown with "1939–1945" and "The Defence Medal" inscribed on them. It would be worn first on the right with the war medal on the left. This would be awarded to members of the armed forces and civilians of the commonwealth who served in non-operational military areas and civilian war services subjected to air attack during the second world war.
War Medal 1939–1945: The red, white and blue striped medal has the same King George inscription as the defence medal on one side, but the other side features a lion standing over a double-headed dragon, representing the defeat of Axis powers. It was created in 1945 by the UK to award commonwealth members who served full-time (28 days of service) in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Desk Object

Desk Object (Catalogue Number: 096)

The final item in the collection is a polished glass block with Pollard’s name inscribed on the side. The polished edges and engraved name suggest this could be a desk item, like a paperweight or promotional display.

These objects provide a glimpse into the life of Arthur Michell Pollard, a man who combined professional skill with civic duty, and whose contributions were recognised at the highest level. While much about him remains to be uncovered, this collection offers a starting point for understanding how dentists shaped, and were shaped by, Britain’s wartime and post-war history.

If you have any further information about Arthur Michell Pollard or his work, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch to help us build a fuller picture of his life and legacy.