Buried in Clearwell church Cemetery, Gloucestershire
387203 Sergeant George OLIVER,,Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers, who was killed by an explosion which blew part of his face away, at 11 Dec 1918 at the Training Field of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers Depot, Monmouth. He died the same day with his wife Mabel Annie at his bedside at 6.40 pm in the Civil Hospital Monmouth aged 27. He was the son of James and Nellie of Brick Hill, Charlestown, Cornwall
He enlisted on the 2nd December 1914 aged 23 and gave his occupation as a Cooper and home address given as Charlestown, St Austell, Cornwall He married Mabel Annie Yarworth, spinster at the Baptist Church, Monmouth on the 24th July 1916. His rank was Sergeant He gave his wife as next of kin and she resided at 4. Wey Bridge, Monmouth
Some notes from his army record.
Warning, SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IS GRAPHIC, but it shows what the Royal Engineer had to do in training.
On the 29th September 1916 in the field he received a Gunshot wound to his back, and in 1917 he returned to the field. No other information on this injury was found.
"The following part have been destroyed by fire from the blitz of WW2 in London
Proceeding of a Court of Inquiry assembled at Monmouth on the 11th day of December 1918 at 1330hrs by order of Lieutenant Colonel R.S. Forstier-Walker. Commanding Officer of the Royal Monmouth Reserve Battalion, for the purpose of investigation and report the circumstance under which 387203, Sergt Oliver.G met with his injuries
Sir, I regret to report the No. 387203, A/Sergt G.Oliver died on the 11th 12.1918 in the Civil Hospital, Monmouth from injuries received while on duty.
An inquest was held on the 12.12.18 in the Borough Hall, Monmouth by the District Coroner, a verdict of Accidental Death being returned.
1st Evidence of R V Hayman, Lt R.E.
I am a Bombing and Demolition Instructor and obtained a First Class Certificate in Bombing at !ress
An empty Mills Grenade with the centrepiece of another grenade screwed into its base and having a yard of instantaneous fuse leading out of same and connected a detonator which was inserted in a small tin of amatol (about one pound) Attached to the safety pin of the grenade was a wire which was turned round the handle of a shovel in the ground and the wire paid out to the store hut about forty yards away. (The charge should be fired by a movement of the shovel. R.V.H.)
The grenade and tin of amatol were buried about one foot deep. Having called the attention of the Class I instructed Sergt Oliver to pull the wire, which would ordinarily cause the pin to be pulled out of the grenade, the wire however, broke about 8 feet from the trap, I instructed Sergt Oliver to Oliver to repair the wire while he was doing this I was cutting the fuses from the detonators inside the store hut. I heard an explosion and saw earth flying about which I took to be the trap having been set off. I went outside of the hut to inspect. I then saw Sergt Oliver had been injured by the explosion and was lying near the site of the trap with his face covered in blood. I sent men to the farmhouse for first aid and 2/Corpl Wright to S.T. Office to report and get assistance. I used what dressing are kept in the hut and were available on the spot.
On several occasions the same kind of "Booby Trap" has been fired in the course of instruction and by Sergt Oliver who is fully qualified. Sergt Oliver met with accident in performance of his duties. The accident took place at approximately at 12.00. Signed R V Haymay, Lt R.E. (T)
Second Evidence of 454043 Sapper Hampton J.
I assisted Sergeant Oliver to place the "Booby Trap" in position Sergt Oliver dug a hole and I assisted. Sergt Oliver placed the grenade and tin of amatol in position - he fixed a short length wire on the pin of the grenade and I covered up the hole. I took a reel of wire from Sergt Oliver which ran out towards the store hut. Sergt Oliver then joined up the wires about six feet from the trap, after which he returned to the store hut. Lieut Hayman after explaining the trap gave us instructions to watch and Sergt Oliver pulle the wire. The wire broke and came off the shovel, after this Sergt Oliver went towards the trap for the purpose of mending the wire. He took hold of the wires and rejoined them, he then took a turn of two of the wire round the shovel handle, after this he caught hold of the shovel with both hands and the explosion took place.
It is possible Sergt Oliver, slipped and consequently gripped the shovel, the ground is very wet and very slippery, I remained the whole time in the store hut after the wire was first pulled. The wire reached to the store hut when he first pulled the wire, the time of the accident was about 1300
Third evidence of 454965 Sergt Lark, W.F.
I am an N.C.O. under instruction and proceeded with my Class to the Bombing Field on Wednesday 11th December 1918 for the purpose of instruction in Bombing. I was at the Store Hut when the wire was first pulled and was watching for the trap going up.
But the trap did not go off, but a certain amount of slack wire came back and Sergt Oliver went up to examine, I saw him twist the wire round the handle and move it to and fro as if to steady it and fix it more firmly in the ground. I realised in doing so he was taking a risk and was not altogether surprised to hear the explosion take place. After the explosion I proceeded to the scene and found Sergt Oliver on his side and on turning him over I could see he was badley injured.
I together with other rendered first aid. The accident took place about 12.00 and I and others carried him down to Monmouth commandeering a trap (Horse and carriage) which was on the road.
Sergt Edwards, R.A.M.C. met us on the road and he at once attended to the to the wounds and we proceeded to the Red Cross Hospital where we left him. I ma of the opinion the wire did not break but only came off the shovel. Sergt Oliver had hardly time to make the joint before he was at the shovel when I saw him. I certainly did not see him make the joint.
Fourth Evidence No 542120 Corporal Lane R.G.
I am an N.C.O. under instruction and proceeded to the Bombing Field on the morning of Wednesday 11th December 1918 with my Class for the purpose of instruction in bombing. I was present when the accident to Sergeant Oliver happened. I saw him walk up to the wire and presumably repair the break it only took him a very short time but I am under the impression he did not re-join two wires.
He afterwards went up to the shovel which he appeared to move slightly as if to loosen. The explosion took place when he moved the shovel. I was about 150 yards from the scene.
I afterwards proceeded to the scene and a Field Dressing in my possession was used as first aid"
"The Court is of the opion that the wire did break and became detached from the shovel handle, that Sergt Oliver repaired the wire, that he afterwards re-attached the wire to the shovel, that he then slightly moved the shovel to loosen same with the object of preventing a second failure and with the result that the trap, which was about three feet distance from the shovel, exploded causing serious injuries to the Sergeant
The doctor incharge of Sergt Oliver in the Red Cross Hospital was Doctor Williams
The case was moved to the Civil Hospital, Monmouth, with injuries to the face caused by explosion His right orbit shattered and brain substance lying on the surface of the wound, the nose was fractured, left eye destroyed, upper and lower jaw fractured. The condition of the patient was critical, his wife at his bedside
