Frederick Oliver was born in Herriard, near Alton, in about 1898. He was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Oliver and the family lived in Husseys Lane, Lower Froyle.

After enlisting in Winchester on 19th July 1915, he joined the Hampshire Regiment as 14260, and served in the Balkans. However, at the time of his death he was 29577 Private Frederick Oliver, serving with the 6th Battalion (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own) Wiltshire Regiment.

On 3rd November 1916 Frederick lost his life while taking part in the Battle of the Somme. The Battalion’s War Diary stated:

‘3rd-5th Nov.16 - During relief enemy artillery were very active causing some 30 casualties. State of trenches very bad indeed. During this tour in trenches enemy artillery continually shelling. Our total casualties were 1 Officer, 13 Other Ranks killed, 43 Wounded and 1 Missing.’

Frederick was just one of over 72,000 men who were lost in the Somme battles between July 1916 and March 1918. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission states that over 90% of these soldiers died in the first Battle of the Somme between 1st July and 18th November 1916.

Private Frederick Oliver was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, Pier and Face 13 A.

Source: “The Remembered Ones of the Great War”, 2014, The Alton and Villages Local History Forum (with permission)