Ernest Oliver
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was the eldest son of John and Ruth Oliver (nee Stevenson). John was born in Ruddington (birth registered 1861, J/F/M) as was his wife Ruth (b. 1862). They were married in 1883 and had ten children all of whom were still living at the time of the 1911 Census: Eliza b. 1884, Elizabeth birth registered 1886 (J/F/M), Ernest b. 21 January 1888, Arthur birth registered 1890 (J/F/M), Ruth b. 1893, Annie b. abt 1895, Harry birth registered 1898 (J/F/M), Rose b. January 1900, John birth registered 1904 (J/F/M) and Hilda May b, 1905. All the children were born in Ruddington. In 1891 John, a hosier's clerk, and Ruth were living on Back Street, Ruddington, with their four children; Eliza, Elizabeth, Ernest and Arthur . By 1901 John was a hosiery manufacturer and he and his wife were living on Wilford Road, Ruddington. Seven of the eight children were in the home on the night of the census: Eliza, Ernest, Arthur, Ruth, Annie, Harry and Rose. Elizabeth may have been working as a general domestic servant in the household of James and Hannah Freck, Millicent Road, West Bridgford. In the years between the two census John and Ruth had two more children, John and Hilda May. The family was still at the same address in Ruddington in 1911 but only eight of the ten children were in the household on the night of the census: Ernest a clerk in a blouse factory, Arthur a clerk in a lace warehouse, Ruth an assistant in a hosiery warehouse, Annie, Harry , Rose, John and Hilda May. Eliza has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but Elizabeth may be the Elizabeth Oliver (25, b. Ruddington) who was a nurse in the household of Robert Dudley Walker, a lace curtain manufacturer, who lived on Huntingdon Drive, The Park, Nottingham, with his wife Helen and one-year old son, John. Ernest's father John died in February 1923. His mother Ruth died at the age of 90 in April 1952; she was still living in the family home at 42 Wilford Road, Ruddington.
Acting Able Seaman Higher Grade Ernest Oliver, R.N.V.R., Drake Battalion. Ernest attested on 10 December 1915 and was mobilised on 16 June 1916. He was drafted for the British Expeditionary Force (France) and disembarked in France on 21 November 1916. He joined Drake Battalion on 12 December 1916. He sprained his right ankle on 31 October 1917, badly enough to be evacuated to the UK on 9 November 1917. He was drafted for the BEF on 9 July and rejoined Drake Battalion on 25 August 1918. He was killed in action a month later on 27 September 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. France. CWGC - History of Vis-en-Artois Memorial (extract): 'This Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org)
Inscription on the memorial tablet raised by fellow bell ringers to Ernest and George Grive who both died in the war: 'In memory of our fellow bell-ringers who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. Their works liveth for evermore.' Nottingham Evening Post, 24th October 1918: 'OLIVER. – Killed in action Sept. 27th, 1918, Able Seaman H. G. Ernest Oliver, R.N.D. A voice we loved is still. – Sorrowing sister, brother-in-law, and niece Hilda.' Courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27 September 1919: ‘Oliver. In loving memory of Ernest Oliver, Drake Battn, RND, who fell in action Sept. 27th, 1918. Ever in our thoughts – Mother, father, brothers, sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Oliver Ernest of Wilford-road Ruddington Nottinghamshire able seaman in HM Navy died 27 September 1918 in France. Probate Nottingham 25 March [1919] to John Oliver hosiery. Effects £195. Probate: Oliver John of Wilford-road Ruddington Nottinghamshire died 1 February 1923 Probate Nottingham 26 June to Arthur Oliver lace merchant’s clerk and Harry Oliver accountant’s clerk. Effects £2080 16s. 2d. Probate: Oliver Ruth of 42 Wilford-road Ruddington Nottinghamshire widow died 12 April 1952 Administration Nottingham 6 June to Arthur Oliver manager textile factory and Harry Oliver accountants clerk. Effects £208 4s. 11d. .
