Ted Bollard

Edward George Bollard (21 January 1920 – 10 November 2011) was a New Zealand plant physiologist and science administrator.

Biography Born in Athlone, Ireland in 1920, Bollard moved to New Zealand as a child with his family. His family settled in Glen Eden, and he became dux at Mt Albert Grammar School. After this, he attended Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland). He joined Plant Diseases Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), but all territorial units were called up after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and he left with the 9th Reinforcements of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was involved in the invasion of Italy. Despite being a Pākehā, he was assigned to the Māori Battalion as a signaller.

At the end of the war he received a bursary to attend Emmanuel College, Cambridge and do a PhD under F. T. Brooks. and in the 1983 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to science.

Bollard died in Auckland in 2011 and his ashes were interred at Purewa Cemetery in 2013.