May 10, 1892

Born in Tweed, Ontario to Amab and Isobell (nee Forsythe) Oliver

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59763 (temporary number 212)

Ø  Next of kin given as Belle Oliver, mother, Foxboro, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Nov 21, 1914

Admitted to the Kingston Hospital with a reaction to the vaccination he received.  After treatment, he was discharged the same day

Mar 11, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Detention for an unrecorded offence

Apr 8, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Detention for an unrecorded offence

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Dec 22, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Cholecystitis.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Dec 28, 1915

Transferred via the No. 16 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 24 General Hospital in Etaples, France and the diagnosis was changed to read Jaundice

Dec 31, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Canterbury

Transferred to 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Jan 22, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 6, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 7, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jun 10, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Oliver rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Dickebusch, Belgium

Nov 9, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Jul 30, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Aug 10, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave in Division Reserve at Fosse 10, west of Lens, France

Sep 1, 1917

Admitted to the No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Sep 3, 1917

Transferred to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples, France and the diagnosis was changed to read Venereal Disease Syphilis

Sep 26, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Oct 21, 1917

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads Diphtheria

Oct 22, 1917

Transferred to the No. 46 British Stationary Hospital

Nov 14, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot

Nov 15, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Nov 24, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Calonne Ricouart, France

Dec 5, 1917

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Oliver rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the Suburban Camp near Villers au Bois, France

Feb 28, 1918

Attached to the District Commandant, Carency – Ablain - St. Nazaire for duty

May 27, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the District Commandant and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the support trenches at the Telegraph Hill Switch, near Neuville Vitasse, France

Aug 6, 1918

While the 21^st Battalion was moving into position for the beginning of the Amiens Offensive, “A” Company was passing by a stock pile of artillery shells for the campaign when an enemy artillery shell landed in their midst, causing a huge explosion of all the shells stored there.  17 men were killed instantly and another 10 were severely wounded.  Private Oliver received wounds to his arms and legs and was evacuated to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 47 Casualty Clearing Station.  He had suffered a fractured right arm and a fractured hip, amongst other penetrating wounds

Aug 8, 1918

Transferred via the No. 19 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 10 General Hospital

Aug 10, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1^st Birmingham War Hospital in Rednal, Birmingham

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Dec 12, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Jan 8, 1919

Transferred to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Basingstoke

Jan 17, 1919

Transferred to the 5^th Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool

Feb 24, 1919

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Essequibo, embarking in Liverpool

Mar 8, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength the No. 2 District Depot

Mar 10, 1919

Granted leave until March 24, 1919.  He was instructed to report to the Whitby Military Hospital, Whitby, Ontario on completion of his leave

Mar 24, 1919

Admitted to the Whitby Military Hospital

Mar 25, 1919

Medical exam notes

Ø  Has a depressed scar in centre or right buttock

Ø  Moderate degree of foot drop and wears a special appliance

Ø  Dorsal flexion is very weak

Ø  Wound to right arm is well healed and grip is fairly strong

Ø  Requests a transfer to Kingston as that is his home

Apr 2, 1919

Man needs a right splint to prevent ankle drop

Apr 14, 1919

Transferred to the No. 3 District Depot in Kingston, Ontario

On arrival in Kingston, he was admitted to the Queen’s University Military Hospital

Jun 2, 1919

Medical exam notes

Ø  Man complains of weakness in right arm and grip is only 80% of normal

Ø  The right radius and ulna were fractured as a result of his shrapnel wounds

Ø  Also complains of weakness in right leg and suffers from a drop foot.

Ø  His right hip had been fractured from the shrapnel wounds he received at the front

Ø  Medical Board recommends he be discharged from service with a pensionable disability

Jun 6, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 10, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 278834

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number C55748

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Foxboro, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 515 South Maine St., Welland, Ontario

Jun 1, 1920

Married to Mary Jane Dickson in Kingston, Ontario

Mar 31, 1971

Robert Oliver died in Welland, Ontario