Military Chat

I am almost at the end of researching the names on a WWI war memorial at a friend's church but am stuck on just two names.

I think I may be missing the obvious somewhere along the line and would really appreciate it if someone could remove my blindfold please :-D

The names are (no other info available) :

R. Oliver

W.T. Brown

There will be some connection to the Wigan area and could be under any of the following districts: Whelley, Aspull, New Springs, Bottling Wood, Ince. In fact, any area of Wigan would be welcome.


Both names are on CWGC - Ancestry and FMP but I just can't pin down the correct people. I can see no births or marriages for an R. Oliver in the area.

On CWGC, one R. Oliver is listed as Alias - real family name Olson - but, again, cannot find a link.

Am now beating head against wall.

Many thanks. Cx
:-(

Ooops. Forgot I am going out shortly. Will be back around 11. (You would think I would know better than to post and run!) :-D

Roll of Honour - Robert Olson
Also known as: R Oliver
Service Number: 1396
Rank: Private
Unit: 2 Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918
Date of death: 09 February 1917
Place of death: Australia
Place of association: Sydney, Australia
Cemetery or memorial details: Gore Hill Cemetery, Gore Hill, Sydney, Australia
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1656173/


The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 10 February 1917

The Funeral of the late Mr. Robert Olson, will leave his late residence, Killawarra, Jersey Road, Artarmon, this afternoon at 3.15 o'clock for Church of England Cemetery, Gore Hill.


OLIVER Robert : [AKA OLSON Robert] : Service Number - 1396 : Place of Birth - Sydney NSW : Place of Enlistment - Liverpool NSW : Next of Kin (Sister) OLSON M
Contents date range 1914 - 1920

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7997302&isAv=N


OLSON, ROBERT
Rank: Private Service No:1396 Date of Death 09/02/1917 Age 34 Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 2nd Bn. Grave Reference C.E. A. 104A. (GRM/2*). Cemetery GORE HILL CEMETERY

(saw above, not much help though!)

Chris :)

Thank you Chris. At least it helps to rule him out of the equation though I guess. x

Found this one but he has a middle name - have found a baptism for him in Parbold, not that far from Wigan:


UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
about Ralph Duckworth Oliver

Ralph Duckworth Oliver
Birth Place:Darwen, Lancs
Death Date:11 Nov 1917
Death Location:France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:Darwen
Rank:Private
Regiment:East Lancashire Regiment
Battalion:2nd Battalion
Number:37789
Type of Casualty:Killed in action
Theatre of War:Western European Theatre

Are the two men's regiments not mentioned on the Memorial?

Hi Potty........no they haven't unfortunately - it simply bears their names. :(

Is this William Brown on the Memorial?


UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
William Brown
Birth Place:Wigan, Lancs
Residence:Wigan
Death Date:15 Sep 1916
Death Location:France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:Wigan
Rank:Corporal
Regiment:King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Battalion:11th Battalion
Number:21208
Type of Casualty:Killed in action
Theatre of War:Western European Theatre

or this Walter:

BROWN, WALTER
Rank:SerjeantService No:11124
Date of Death:28/09/1915
Age:20
Regiment/Service:Border Regiment 6th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 119 to 125 or 222 and 223.
MemorialHELLES MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Albert and Grace Brown, of 46, Walthew Lane, Platt Bridge, Wigan.

I suppose it could be either of them Potty but I have been going with the 2 initials. I couldn't believe how many W.T. Browns there were in the war!!!

Thanks for your interest....much appreciated.