Military History

Oliver is listed as being killed in action on 1 July 1916. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

The Sucerie in Front of Mailly-Maillet  – 1 July 1916 – Attack on Beaumont Hamel:

2.00am: Battalion reported present in forming up trenches

4.30am to 7.00am: Reported that everyone had a good breakfast. Artillery bombardment was intense and not a lot of retaliation from Bosch. Artillery increased in intensity & enemy replying with Field Guns and 15cm.

7.00am: Very intense artillery on both sides

7.25am: Enemy machine guns opened all along line. Three minutes later our troops are lying on parapet ready to advance.

7.30am: Advance begins, enemy first line reached and passed very quickly as also was the second. Only in one or two cases were any enemy seen in these two lines. Having plenty of casualties from machine gun fire in enemy third and fourth lines. At the third line men were temporarily held up by machine gun fire but took it by rushers.

From this point the fighting was all with bombs along trenches. We reached our objective probably 35-40 minutes from Zero hour (7.30am) & at once commenced consolidating & cleaning rifles under the directions of Capt. Martin & 2/Lt Turner. By this time the rest of the Battalion was arriving but had had so many casualties that they could not go through us so helped consolidate. This happened with all Battalions following us. Many times we were bombed from this position and regained it until bombs ran out.

We had to retire to the 3^rd line, line the parapet & hold on with machine [gun] and rifle fire. Parties were detailed to collect as many bombs as could be found (both English & German) & when we had a good store we again reached our objective. No supply of bombs were coming from rear so could not hold on & retired again. Enemy machine guns & snipers were doing a great amount of damage all the while. Enemy artillery opened but fortunately their range was over.

7.30pm: Held onto this position until relieved by a Battalion from the rear. All through the action no troops were seen on our right or left. This has a great deal to do with the inability to push past our objective.

11pm: Arrived at Mailly-Maillet & were put into billets.

Mailly-Maillet – July 2^nd: Resting except for Roll Call.

Casualties arrived at from Roll Call:

Officers Killed: Lt Col C.A. Dixon; Major A.A. Leadrich; Capt S.W. Ludlow; Lt’s Hoskins, Fussell & Proctor; 2^nd Lt’s Mareham & Key.

Officers Wounded 12; Wounded & Missing 1, Wounded & Prisoner of War 1.

Other Ranks: Killed 57; Wounded 255 and Missing 251

Total Casualties were 585.