James Donald OLIVER

OLIVER, James Donald

Service Number: 200
Enlisted: 15 December 1915, Albert Park, Vic.
Last Rank: Second Lieutenant
Last Unit: 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery
Born: Colac, Victoria, Australia, 13 June 1891
Home Town: Colac, Colac-Otway, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Government Dairy Supervisor
Died: Killed In Action, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 26 years
Cemetery: Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial
XVI B 9
Memorials: Cootamundra RSL Honour Rolls, Cootamundra War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

15 Dec 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 200, 39th Infantry Battalion, Albert Park, Vic.
27 May 1916: Involvement Sergeant, 200, 39th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
27 May 1916: Embarked Sergeant, 200, 39th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne
28 Feb 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 39th Infantry Battalion
27 Jun 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery
27 Jun 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Walter James and Emily OLIVER 'Shaftesbury',Cootamundra, New South Wales

Lieut. Don. Oliver Killed in Action.
More sad news! Cootaunmda has lost some fine men at the front, and one of the best is Lieut J.D. Oliver, son of the esteemed Mr. and Mrs. J. Oliver, of 'Shaftesbury. Don was only 25 years of age, being the eldest boy living. He sailed with the first contingent, and, taking ill in Egypt, was returned to Australia, but soon left again for duty at the front, where  he got on well. He was with the 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery, late 39th Batt., and was killed in action on 4th October. To Mr. May, the Presbyterian minister, came the sad duty to break the news, and on arrival at 'Shaftesbury' he found Mrs. Oliver in the act of making up the Christmas parcel for her soldier son. The Oliver family has had its share of  trouble. About 18 months ago a married son died in a Melbourne hospital, the mother being a patient at the same time in the same institution. About ten days ago the mail brought a letter from the late Lieutenant, and everything had been going well with him. The community grieves the loss of another one of its brave boys.

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