(16th Battalion in June of that year)
Oliver was transferred ino the 6th Batallion, South Wales Borderers, and was taken prisoner in
April 1918, on the Lys.
This group of British prisoners of war were captured in the Spring Offensive March/April 1918.
They were about to be taken to prisoner-of-war camps in Germany. Oliver managed to escape and
returned to his Unit and then, on 28th May 1918, he was reported missing, aged 23. Oliver had
married Beatrice Gasby in February 1917 in Birkenhead, Cheshire. Beatrice was originally from
69,Chatham Road, Rockferry, Cheshire
One of Oliver’s brothers, Joseph Francis (born 1896), was a Private (service number 30227) with
the 10th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He also took part in the 38th Division attack on Mametz Wood
on 10th July 1916, and, like his brother Oliver, he was severely wounded and evacuated to the same
hospital in Liverpool. On his return to fitness he was assigned to the lst Battalion, Welsh Regiment
and served in Salonica. Joseph Francis survived the war and died in 1944.
In Brecon Cathedral which is the spiritual home of the South Wales Borderers, there is an
inscription which reads
“Almighty God......enable us who remain in the safety of our homes and be worthy of those who
have died for us.......grant us a willing spirit to do whatever duty may be laid upon us”.
Oliver is commemmorated on the Soissons Memorial.