Public Contributions:

Arthur Scott Oliver was born in Dunedin on 18th November 1893, the seventh child of James and Susan Oliver (neé Purches). Arthur’s father was born in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1843, a...nd his mother was born (1857) in Kent, England.  In 1873, James arrived in Wellington and Susan in 1877.  They married in Lower Hutt (1878), and subsequently moved to Dunedin where James Oliver was a baker with Stephen William Wood and George Purches (James’s brother-in-law). Arthur was attested at Trentham Military Camp (Hutt Valley) on 1 May 1915. He embarked from Wellington on 13th June 1915 as part of the 5th Reinforcements bound for Egypt. The 5th Reinforcements arrived in Port Suez (southern end), Egypt, between 24th July and 6th August 1915. On 26th August 1915, Arthur disembarked at Gallipoli as a member of the 5th Reinforcements, and joined the 4th Company of the Otago Infantry Regiment that had been part of the original landing force (25th April 1915). Arthur’s Personnel File does not indicate if he had specific duties during his time at Gallipoli.  One would anticipate that as an infantryman, he participated in ANZAC operations on the ridge below Chunuk Bair.  Records show that he was injured or wounded and required Field Hospital treatment (25/26th August 1915).  On 27th December 1915, he disembarked at Alexandra having been evacuated from Gallipoli. On 27th December 1915, Arthur arrived at Alexandra on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt.  He was transferred to a machine gun section on 27th January 1916, and on 1st March 1916 he was posted to the 1st Machine Gun Company, New Zealand Machine Gun Corp, of the newly formed 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade. Between January and April 1916, the Brigade was reinforced and trained, while at the same time providing defensive support to allied units defending the Suez Canal Zone from raids by Sinai Desert-based Turkish forces. In early April 1916 Arthur embarked with the New Zealand Machine Gun Corp for France and the Western Front. Details of Arthur's service in France, hospitalisation and further training in England, and his return to France are detailed in the Biographical Notes attached to his record. On 27th October 1917, Arthur returned from leave and rejoined his machine gun unit in the field around Polygon Wood.  On 3rd November 1917, Arthur was appointed Temporary Sergeant, vice 6/1915 Sergeant A H McHane, wounded in action, and full Sergeant on 1st December 1917.  On 24th November 1917, Arthur was killed in action, which means he was promoted posthumously to the rank of Sergeant. A description of his death is given in a letter to Arthur's brother, John, written by Sergeant Alan Thomas (24/303) who served with him and was also a friend: "His gun was in front line, our big guns were strafing and Fitz replied.  Arthur saw to it that the crew were under cover while he with his No 1 stood to the gun in case of emergency. Hardy had this been arranged than a “whiz bang” (German shell of small calibre) burst in the trench at their feet killing both instantaneously.  When I arrived ten minutes later, Arthur was sitting against the side of the trench with a smirk on his face – he had died doing his duty and mercifully without any pain.  This happened at ten minutes past five on 24th Nov just at dusk. At night we laid him to rest in a shell hole, erecting a rude wooden cross to his sacred memory." (Extracted from Biographical Notes) Read More

My maternal grandfather, William Wood Oliver, was a brother of Arthur Scott Oliver. Arthur was born in Dunedin on 18th November 1893, one of nine children to James Oliver and Susan Purches. He was a ...plumber in Wellington when he enlisted with his cousin, John Thomas Oliver, who was also killed in WWI. Read More