Arthur Adrian OLLEY MC, DCM

Arthur Adrian OLLEY MC, DCM Update Details

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OLLEY, Arthur Adrian

Service Number:	838
Enlisted:	17 August 1914, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank:	Lieutenant
Last Unit:	1st Pioneer Battalion
Born:	Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia, 17 May 1893
Home Town:	Yarrawonga, Moira, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Electrician
Died:	9 July 1956, aged 63 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Not yet discovered
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

17 Aug 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 838, 6th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
19 Oct 1914:	Involvement Private, 838, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1914:	Embarked Private, 838, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne
1 May 1915:	Wounded AIF WW1, Driver, 838, 6th Infantry Battalion, Wound to the abdomen
10 Mar 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1st Pioneer Battalion, From 6th Battalion
29 Jun 1916:	Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, For conspicuous gallantry when assisting an officer to repel a bomb attack. On one occasion he was buried by a shell explosion and when dug out was placed on the parapet as dead. On recovering consciousness he refused to leave his work. Commonwealth Gazette, 184 on 14 December 1916
23 Aug 1918:	Honoured Military Cross, For gallantry and devotion to duty between Proyart and Foucaucourt, east of Amiens, on 23rd August 1918, in command of a company of pioneers, who were to follow the infantry closely and put in a support line when a certain objective had been reached. He accompanied the first wave of infantry so as to choose a site. During the advance an infantry officer became a casualty, and he assumed command of this officer's platoon and led them through a wood strongly held by the enemy to the objective. On reaching the objective he laid the positions for the support line, and when his company arrived conducted the digging of it under heavy machine gun and shell fire. Commonwealth Gazette. 67, on 3 June 1919
24 Apr 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Pioneer Battalion, Discharged at the 3rd Military District

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of James Milne Olley and Ellen Mary Olley nee Lester of Yarrawonga, Victoria.

Brother of Allen Robert Olley who died of wounds of wounds received on 25 April 1915 at aboard HS Gascon. Buried at sea his name appears on the Lone Pine Memorial, Panel 29.

On 24 September 1918 Arthur married Mary Isabel MacLean in the Oratory, Wandsworth, London. Rev. P. O'Connor officiated

Commenced return to Australia on 17 December 1918 aboard HT Somali disembarking on 8 February 1919

Medals: Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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