Harold Oliver

Harold was the son of Joseph and Fanny Oliver (née Andrew or Andrews). His father Joseph was born in Basford, Nottingham, in 1860, the son of Edwin Oliver, a tailor, and his wife Sarah (née Armstrong m. Basford St Leodegarius February 1859). His mother Fanny was born in Bleasby in 1861 (bap. Bleasby St Mary August 1862), the daughter of George, an agricultural labourer, and Hannah Andrew (née Bartram m. St Mary November 1860). Joseph (20), an engine cleaner, and Fanny (20) were married at Nottingham St John Leenside in September 1881 and had seven children: Joseph b. Nottingham 1881 d. 1908, Albert Edwin b. Nottingham 1884 and Harold b. 1889, Owen b. 1891, Florence b. 1893, Sidney b.1895 and Mabel b. 1899 who were all born in Bleasby. With the exception of Joseph who was baptised at Nottingham St Mary on Christmas Day 1881 and Harold and Mabel for whom no baptismal records have been found, the children were baptised at Bleasby St Mary. Joseph, a lace maker, and Fanny together with their three sons, Joseph, Albert and Harold, were living with Fanny's parents, George, a beerhouse keeper and carrier, and Hannah Andrew at the Fisherman's Rest, Bleasby, in 1891. Joseph, a lace curtain maker, his wife and five of their children, Harold, Owen, Florence, Sidney and Mabel, were living in Notown, Bleasby, by 1901. The two eldest sons, Joseph, a twisthand and Albert a threader, both working at a lace factory, were living with their paternal grandmother, Sarah Oliver, in Westhorpe, Southwell. Joseph jnr. died in 1908 aged 26. His parents appear to have separated by 1911 when Joseph was living with his mother Sarah in Westhorpe. Fanny, head of household, and working as a charwoman, was still living in Notown with three of their children, Florence a dressmaker, Sidney a farm labourer and Mabel who was school age. Albert was a boarder living at Westhorpe, Southwell, with Harry and Mary Kirk and Owen was a student at St Luke's College, Exeter (Exeter Diocesan Training College). Only Harold has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but he was living in Lincoln when he attested in the army. When Sidney attested in 1914 he named his mother, father and brothers Albert and Harold as his next of kin. His mother and Harold were living in Bleasby and his brother Albert in Beeston (exact address 'not known') while his father's address was 'not known New Zealand.' No trace has yet been found of Joseph Oliver's name on passenger lists for New Zealand or Australia and other records suggest that Joseph snr. lived continuously in Nottinghamshire. The CWGC record gave Harold's parents' address as Swiss Cottage, Bleasby, and in 1921 Joseph and Fanny were living there with their widowed daughter Florence Cox and her son Ernest Charles. Fanny died in July 1936. According to the probate record, she was a widow and living at Swiss Cottage, Bleasby. However, Joseph snr. was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living in Beeston with his married son, Albert. Joseph died in 1940. Harold married Kate Hogg (b. 1893) in 1915 (reg. Southwell) and their son Harold Cecil was born in August the following year. The couple lived in Fiskerton with Kate's mother but the later CWGC record gave his widow's address as Weldon Road, Corby, Northamptonshire. Kate married Charles Meadows in 1922 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, she and her husband, a railway signalman, were living in Corby with their son James (b. 1930) and her son Harold, an electrical apprentice. Kate died in 1983. Two of Harold's brothers, Albert Edwin and Sidney, also served in the war. Albert Edwin attested in February 1915. He was 29 years old, a lace factory hand, married with three sons and living in Beeston, Nottingham. Albert served with the Royal Horse and Field Artillery (L/7867 Gunner): Home 20 February 1915-7 January 1916 (322d). BEF France 8 January 1916-2 September 1918 (2y 238d). Furlough 3 September 1918-17 September 1918 (15d). BEF France 18 September 1918-9 April 1919 (204d). Home 10 April 1919-31 March 1920 (356d). Total 5 years 41 days. Albert transferred to the Army Reserve on 14 May 1919. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Sidney enlisted in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on a 6 years Service Engagement, on 3 January 1914. He joined the Sherwood Foresters (3701 Private) later transferring to the Machine Gun Corps. He was 18 years old and employed as a farm servant providing a reference from a previous employer, Alfred Lidgett, farmer, for whom he had worked for over two years before leaving his employment the month before joining the Army Reserve. Albert completed recruit training in May 1914 and was appointed unpaid lance corporal on 21 May 1915. He was posted to the 9th Battalion to serve with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 18 September 1915. He embarked at Imbros on 29 January 1916 disembarking at Alexandria, Egypt, on 3 February 1916. He transferred to the 33rd Brigade Machine Gun Company (Sidi Bishr) on 3 March that year, then embarked at Alexandria for service in France on 27 June 1916. He then served in France from 28 June 1916 to 30 December 1918. Promoted corporal 28 October 1916. Albert had 10 days leave in the UK between 8-17 February 1917. Posted 33rd Coy 16 November 1917. Promoted sergeant 19 April 1918 and posted to 11th Bn. He was treated for a shell gas wound (?) between 8 April 1918 and June, including a period of convalescence (in France), rejoining his unit on 15 June 1918. He was then on home service from 31 December 1918 to 2 January 1920 when he was discharged on completion of his 6 year engagement although he had been demobilized on 18 March 1919. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Their sister Florence married Charles Enos Cox at Bleasby St Mary on 24 October 1914, when Charles, formerly a railway porter (Midland Railway), was already in uniform (2071 Lance Corporal, 1/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters). He was killed in action on 14 October 1915. (See 'Extra information').