Samuel Newman Oliver

Samuel was the son of Albert Oliver and his wife Alice (née Newman). His father Albert was born in 1869 at Barton in Fabis, Nottinghamshire, the son of Henry and Mary Oliver. His mother Alice was born at Radcliffe on Trent, also in 1869, the daughter of Charles and Ann Newman. Albert and Alice were married in 1892 (reg. Nottingham) and had eight children by 1911 of whom three had died in infancy. Their eldest child, Samuel, was born before their marriage and his birth was registered in the surname Newman although he later used the surname Oliver. Their five surviving children were Samuel b. Radcliffe on Trent 1892, Annie b. Barton in Fabis 1897 (reg. Derby), Gertrude May (May) b. Barton in Fabis 1900, Arthur William (k/a William Arthur) b. Derby 1901 and Norah b. Kegworth 1908. Samuel and his sister Annie were both baptised at Derby St Andrew in September 1898; the family was then living on Harrow Street, Derby. Another daughter, Vera, was born in 1913 (reg. Loughborough). The three children who died in infancy were Ernest b. 1893 (reg. Bingham) d. 1895 (reg. Nottm), Lilian b. 1895 (reg. Nottm) d. 1896 (reg. Bingham) and Gladys b. 1905 d. 1905 (reg. Shardlow). In 1891, the year before their marriage, Albert, a blacksmith, was living in West Bridgford, Nottingham, with his father Henry, also a blacksmith, his mother and three siblings. Alice and her son Samuel (Newman) were living in Radcliffe on Trent, with her parents Charles, a farm labourer, and Ann, and her two sisters. By 1901 Oliver, a striker (railway), and Alice were living on Harrow Street, Shardlow, with their three children Samuel, Annie and May. Also in the household was a boarder, Arthur Marriott, who was also employed on the railway. In 1911, Samuel, a farm wagoner, was working for Thomas Butter, farmer, and living with his employer and his family at Spring Farm, Mapperley Plains, Nottingham. Samuel's parents and their four children Annie, May, William and Norah, were living in Barton in Fabis where his father was working as a farm labourer. Samuel was employed as a carter by a Southwell company when he attested in 1914. His parents had by then moved from Barton in Fabis to Forest Street, Shepshed. Albert Oliver completed a form for the Army in 1919 listing his late son's surviving blood relatives. He named himself and his wife, their son William and daughters May, Norah and Vera, all of Forest Street, Shepshed, and their married daughter, Annie Gee, of Main Street (place illegible), who had married John W Gee in 1918 (reg. Loughborough). Albert probably died in 1933. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, his widow Alice was living at 54 Forest Street, Shepshed, with her unmarried daughter May; the record of one other member of the household remains closed. Alice died in 1951.

In 1911 he was a wagoner on farm. Employed by JH Kirkby, Southwell, as a carter for three years before enlisting in the army.

Southwell. However, he probably later used his parents' home at Forest Street, Shepshed, Loughborough, as his permanent address. Enlisted Southville, Leicestershire.

Samuel Oliver attested on 20 October 1914 at Southwell. He was 23 years 10 months old and employed by JH Kirkby of Southwell as a carter. He named his mother Alice of Forest Street, Shepshed, Leicestershire, as his next of kin. He was posted to the 1/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters and served in France from 2 March 1915. In June 1915 the battalion moved up to the Ypres Salient and a history of the battalion described its tours in the front line trenches followed by more relaxed periods behind the lines. Samuel was killed in action on 30 July 1915; the battalion's casualties 'during the activities of July 30th and 31st, amounted to 21 killed and 40 wounded.' Samuel has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. A history of the battalion described the situation on 30 July 1915: 'At 3.30am on July 30th, immediately after stand-down, and within a few hours of our arrival in the trenches, on a perfect summer morning, the whole of the wood ['Sanctuary Wood' through which the trench system partly ran and was 'in those days most picturesque'] was suddenly surrounded by a ring of fire, while at the same time a heavy bombardment was oepened, concentrating apparently on the trenches around 'Hooge Crater.' Under cover of this bombardment, and behind 'flammenwerfer,' the enemy attacked the point of the salient held by C Company, at the same time throwing the greater weight of his forces against the Hooge sector occupied by units of the 14th Divisions ... The result was that the enemy succeeded at once in gaining the whole of the front and support trenches on our left, pusing forward into the North end of the wood, and threatening to cut off the whole of the salient, and leaving the trenches held by D Company in imminent danger of being turned from the rear. The first attack on the point of the salient was driven off by rifle and machine gun fire ... for a short space of time there was a dangerous gap on the left of C Company which was filled up by [names] and a platoon of B Company. Unfortunately an enemy machine gun traversed the parapet, killing many of the men of this gallant platoon ... Further attacks by the enemy on the point of the salient were made during the day, and a more serious one early next morning, but they were readily driven off with loss.' Source: 'History of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919' (pp 67-69), Captain WCC Weetman MC CdG.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 4 August 1915: Oliver. Killed in action, July 28th, Private Samuel Newman Oliver, 8th Sherwood Foresters, aged 24 years, of Southwell (late of Shepshed). Duty nobly done. Mother and father.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Newark Herald, 7 August 1915: ‘Pte Sam Oliver, Southwell. News has come through that Pte. Sam Oliver has also been killed. He was 24 years of age and was formerly an employee of Mr JH Kirkby, in whose service he remained for about three years, and enlisted last October, being attached to the 2nd 8th Sherwood Foresters. Of a most jovial disposition he was hight esteemed. Pte Oliver was a native of Shipshed (sic).’ (www.britishnewspaperardhive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Alice Oliver, of Shepshed. Samuel's personal belongings were returned to his mother in November 1915. His possessions comprised: packet of letters and photos, disc, hymn book, gospel, testament, 2 knives, razor, folding mirror. Alice acknowledged receipt of these items, closing her letter with her thanks 'to you all for your kind sympathy in our sad bereavement.'