Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle | I. G. 1. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.131 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 57B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 10th (Service) Battalion The Cheshire Regiment |
10th (Service) Battalion Formed at Chester on 10 September 1914 as part of K3 and attached to 75th Brigade in 25th Division. Moved to Codford St Mary and by November 1914 was in billets in Bournemouth. Moved to Aldershot in May 1915. 26 September 1915 : landed at France. 26 October 1915 : transferred to 7th Brigade in same Division 21 June 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and main body of personnel transferred to 9th Bn. Cadre returned to England and moved to Aldershot. July 1918 : absorbed by 15th Bn, South Wales Borderers at North Walsham |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
He appears on the Battalion War Diary as an entry showing those who were Killed in Action between 3rd July and 15th July. The battalion were in the area of LA BOISELLE and leading up to the 15th they were heavily shelled by German artillery and relieved by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles on the 15th. Although the medal card cites the date of death as the 15th, probate shows the 14th which is more than likely to be the case.
Probate OLIVER George Frank of Ramilies Barracks Aldershot Hampshire 2nd Lieutenant 10th Cheshire regiment died 14 July 1915 in France on active service Probate London 10 November to William Edward Oliver merchant tailor. Effects £115 11s. 11d.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Albert Coveney No. 3519 E.C. | Cheshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
26th November 1912 | 30th December 1912 | 5th February 1913 |
Listed as a 26 year old cashier and resident at Birkenhead in 1912. He had resigned the lodge by February, 1914. He doesn't appear to have joined any other lodge, so was not a subscribing member at the time of his death.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley