According to the
Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s (CWGC) Debt of Honour register, John Oliver was a native of Chailey. This is not borne out by the 1891 census however, which notes his place of birth as
Lewes. John Oliver was a one year old infant when the census was taken and was
living at 55 Bevenbridge, St Johns, Lewes, with his family. The family comprised John
Henry Oliver (senior) aged 33, working as an agricultural labourer; his wife Mercy Oliver (nee Mitchell, aged 43) and their
three children: Rebecca Oliver (aged five), Mary Oliver (aged three) and John Henry Oliver (junior).
Ten years later,
the 1901 census notes the family still living at Bevenbridge Cottages. John Henry Oliver (senior) is aged 44 and working as brickmaker. His wife’s age is noted as 52. John and Mary are noted
as 11 and 13 years old respectively. Rebecca Oliver (aged 15) was working as
a general domestic servant in East Chiltington.
Soldiers Died
in The Great War further adds to the confusion over John’s place of birth by noting it as Hamsey, Sussex but it does also tell us that he enlisted at Lewes. His connection with Chailey could be through work. His father,
as mentioned already, was working as a brickmaker and it is possible that he was working at the Chailey brickyards and that
his son followed him there.
There is also
some confusion over his name. The Debt of Honour register and the tablet inside
St Peter’s church Chailey refer to him as Henry J Oliver. All other reference
point to the Christian names the other way round.
Chailey Parish
Magazine notes in November 1914 that John Oliver is serving his King and Country, adding in October 1915 that he is serving
with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment in France. In July 1915 Chailey Parish Magazine reported news of his father’s
burial (on June 7th
1915) and before the year was out, Mercy Oliver
would lose her only son as well.
G/1672 Private
John Henry Oliver died of wounds on the opening day of the battle of Loos: 25th September 1915. News of his death (“the only son of the late
Harry Oliver”) was reported on page 12 of The Sussex Express (October 22nd 1915) and again on 3rd March 1916; a photo
accompanying the 1916 article.
The Commonwealth
War Graves Commission gives his battalion as the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment whilst Chailey Parish Magazine, The Sussex
Express and Soldiers Died, all quote the 10th Battalion.
John Oliver is
buried at Verquin Communal Cemetery, France. His headstone carried the inscription, WE MISS THE HAND CLASP / MISS THE LOVING SMILE.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was the son of Mrs Mercy Oliver of 17 St John’s Terrace, Lewes. In the space of four months she had
lost both her husband and only son.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- 1891 Census of England and Wales
- 1901 Census of England and Wales
- Soldiers Died in The Great War
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Debt of Honour Register
- Chailey Parish Magazine
- The Sussex Express
- Jon Miller for the photograph of John Oliver's grave at Verquin
