Private 31360 Horace George Oliver

Died Home on Friday, 13th April 1917, age 18.
Buried in Grave C. 225. at Tipton Cemetery, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

18th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt.). 121st Brigade of 40th Division.

Son of Joseph and Rose Oliver, of 5 High Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

Never served abroad.
Medal entitlement: No medal entitlement.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the St. John's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Not recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Site.

Genealogical Data

Birth of Horace George Oliver registered June quarter 1899 in Dudley.

1901 Census
2 Court 2 House, Park Lane East, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Oliver (32, Coal Miner - Horse Driver, born Tipton), his wife Rose (29, born Shropshire), and their 3 children: William (8, born Sedgley), Isabella (6, born Sedgley), and Horace (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
2 Court 2 House, Park Lane East, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Oliver (42, Coal Miner - Loader, born Tipton), his wife Rose (40, born Clee Hills), and 6 of their 7 surviving children of 8: William Henry (18, Labourer, born Coseley), Horace (12, School, born Tipton), Violet (9, School, born Tipton), Albert (6, School, born Tipton), Hilda (5, School, born Tipton), and Ethel (2, born Tipton).

Death of Horace G. Oliver registered June quarter 1917 in Dudley, age 18.

Personal Data

Horace enlisted on 9th October 1915 when he was just 16 years of age; he enlisted with the 18th Sherwood Foresters which at that time was a Bantam battalion. He was 5 feet 1 inch tall with a 33½-inch chest, weighed 105 pounds, and he was employed as a miner. He gave his age as 18 years and 171 days which was probably 2 years overstated. His address was 12 Victoria Street, Princes End, but his next of kin was his father Joseph Oliver at 13 Victoria Street, Princes End.

After 3 months in training, Horace was discharged on 29th January 1916 as "not likely to become an effective soldier". His discharge certificate says that he had "Tuberculosis of the Lung - TB has been demonstrated in the sputum", and goes on to say "The boy is also very much under age". It is not known if the Tuberculosis was a pre-existing illness or if it was contracted during training.

It appears that Horace never went abroad as there is no Medal Index Card as he would not have been entitled to any medals.

Action resulting in his death

According to his death certificate, Horace died on 13th April 1917 at 5 High Street, Tipton, from "Pulmonary Tuberculosis". His funeral started from St. John's church, and he was buried in Tipton cemetery on 19th April 1917. Horace does not have a Commonwealth War Graves headstone, this would be correct if his death was unconnected with military service; he is commemorated on the St. John's Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.