Thomas Pollock from Edinburgh was a powerfully built man weighing 13 stone. In 1912 he was the chief physical training instructor at the YMCA in Adelaide. He had trained at the Carnegie Gymnasium at Dunfermline and was a champion wrestler. In that year he saved a woman from drowning at Port Adelaide when she was in danger of being trapped between two ships.
Pollock was also captain of the YMCA soccer team. The “Y” could claim to be one of Adelaide’s earliest soccer clubs – they had fielded a team in the early 1890s, playing the likes of Pioneers, Rangers and the Adelaide Rowing Club. Revived in 1911, they had a fine season in Second Division in1913 finishing as runners up to Locos, and ahead of Magill and St Peters.
Pollock enlisted at Morphettville on 10th September 1914 and served with the 3rd Field Ambulance at Gallipoli and in France. After non-military work in England he was returned to Australia and discharged in August 1919.