| Regimental number | 316 |
| Place of birth | Bacchus Marsh, Victoria |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Address | 16 York Street, Brighton, Victoria |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 29 |
| Height | 5' 4.5" |
| Weight | 132 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mrs Oliver, 16 York Street, Brighton, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 29th Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/46/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 29th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 1), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 116 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 10 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916. Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916. 'Identification Disc received from Germany. No particulars afforded except the soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION, FRANCE 19.7.16.' on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section from War Office. A handwritten note on the bottom of the B.103 notes, 'believed buried in vicinity of Fleurbaix, Sheet 36'. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Red Cross File No 2050209 has statement from 317 Pte O'SHANNASEY, 29th Bn (patient on HS 'Cambria', Calais), 3 November 1916: 'He was my particular pal. He was coming back a few yards behind us. We heard him shout, and a shell burst behind us. We got the live and injured men out afterwards but nothing was seen of oliver. It was coming back from a dummy trench at Fromelles on the morning of the 20th.' Second statement, 730 Pte F.L. WHEELER (patient, Ward 31, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 4 December 1916: '[364] Sergt. White, D. Company, 29th battalion, reported to me that oliver was blown to bits at Fleurbaix, he heard the shell coming just after he had spoken to Oliver, and the shell burst on oliver and that is the last we ever saw of him. Oliver was my brother-in-law.' |
| Miscellaneous details | Wife's address subsequently 106 Carpenter St, Brighton (September 1916); then 21 Lawrence St, Brighton; then 60 Farmer St, Burnley, Victoria, and also remarried and was then Mrs Alice Linda Simmons (October 1920); then 629 Church Street, Richmond, Victoria (1922); then 22 William Street, Brighton, and reverted to Mrs Alice Linda Oliver (1947). |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, OLIVER Ernest Robert
Red Cross file 2050209 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
