Name
Oliver James Belson
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/10/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33944
York and Lancaster Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SUCRERIE CEMETERY, EPINOY
D. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Oliver James Belson was born in Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts in 1898, the son of Oliver and Ada Belson and the eldest of 5 children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at 3 East View, London Road, Two Waters, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Journeyman Baker. By the 1911 Census, 12 year old Oliver is listed as living with his grandparents, James and Mary Howard at The Parade, Apsley End, where his grandfather was a 'Marine Store Dealer' supplying goods to those living on the barges which sailed on the Grand Junction (Union) Canal through Apsley and Boxmoor. His parents and two younger siblings were living nearby at 16 Apsley End.
He gave his address as The Parade, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead on enlistment at which time his parents and siblings were also living there. He was working in the Marine Store Depot as a Marine Store Dealer's Assistant (which his grandfather had owned on the 1911 Census).
His father later lived at 37 High Ridge Road, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Watford on 20 February 1917 and was initially posted to the 26th and then the 28th Training Reserve Battalion for basic training. On 7 March he was transferred to the 245th Infantry Battalion. then joined the British Expeditionary Force on 24 September 1917 at a Base Depot in France, being posted to the 10th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment as few days later.
He saw action in 1917 in the 3rd Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele.
When the 10th Battalion was disbanded in February 1918 Oliver was one of those transferred to the 6th Battalion. He was injured on 6 May while on a working party when he slipped off duckboards in darkness and cut his hand. After treatment in hospital he returned to his battalion in early June and was in action again in the 2nd Battle of Arras.
He was given home leave in September and visited family and friends in Hemel Hempstead before returning to the front on the 24th where he was almost immediately in action during the Battle of the Canal du Nord (part of the Hundred Days Offensive).
After initially being posted as 'missing' his death was confirmed as 1 October 1918 following an attack by Allied forces on German positions near Epinoy which began on 27 September 1918.
Oliver is one of 32 men from the 6th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment who died on the same day and who are buried in Sucrerie Cemetery, Epinoy, France.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs A Belson, The Parade, Apsley End, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH".
His mother received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £27 6s 2d. She also received a pension of 6 shillings a week from 3 June 1919.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.,
