Name
James Taylor Oliver
23rd August 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/03/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
265048
Hertfordshire Regiment
1/1st
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 89 and 90.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Hoddesdon Congregational Church Memorial, now in Broxbourne United Reformed Church, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
James Taylor OLIVER was born on 23rd August 1894,
in Yonkers, New York, USA, son of Adam Melrose Oliver a Carpenter and Margaret
Ellen Oliver (nee Taylor). The eldest of their ten children. His parents were
married in Scotland on 6th February 1891.
James, his parents and brother David returned to England around
1896.
1901 Census records James aged 8, living with his parents,
brothers David (6), Adam (1) and sister Christina (4) in Lord Street North,
Hoddesdon, Herts.
James enlisted at Hoddesdon, Herts, in the Hertfordshire
Regiment, Territorial Force, his service number 893 would indicate he enlisted
in late 1908.
1911 Census, James 18, is an Apprentice Plumber, living with his parents, five brothers and three sisters, at 54 Ware Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Sister Edith May was born in 1915,
His mother Margaret died on 29th June 1915, aged
44.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, James was a Corporal
in the Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force. The Battalion was mobilised
for war service on the 1st November 1914, with orders to be ready to
sail on the 5th November. James volunteered for war service (Territorial
Force members were not obliged to serve overseas, as they were a home defence
force). The Battalion embarked aboard the “City of Chester” in the evening
of the 5th, arriving on the morning of the 6th, at Le
Havre, France. The Battalion disembarked about mid-day and marched the 31/2
miles to No. 2 Rest Camp. By the 11th November 1914, the
Battalion were in trenches at the front.
James was Killed in Action on 30th March 1918,
aged 24. At the time the Battalion were in trenches at the front in the area of
Aubercourt, Somme, France. He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the
Pozieres Memorial to the missing in France. Panel 89 & 90.
Extract from the Battalion War Diaries.
30-3-18. Today (March 30th) saw the enemy advancing on
the right flank on the other side of the river de LUCE. He very soon enfiladed
our positions both with artillery and machine guns. This was followed by a
strong enemy bombardment and attack on our front. After a stubborn resistance
the Battalion fell back to the BOIS DE HANGARD, making two counter attacks en
route.
Additional Information
His sister Bessie Margaret Oliver of 54 Ware Road,
Hoddesdon, Herts, was awarded a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 22nd
October 1918.
His effects of £23-04-02 pay owing and his war gratuity of
£18, went to his father Adam Oliver.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild
