Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant F. G. Oliver, 22nd (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish), late Private Canadian Army Medical Corps, who was taken prisoner of war north of Bullecourt on the first day of the German Spring Offensive, 21 March 1918

1914-15 Star (521139 Pte. F. G. Oliver C.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. F. G. Oliver) generally good very fine (3) £100-£140

Frederick George Oliver was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland in July 1882. He was employed as an Architect prior to attesting for service with the Canadian Army Medical Corps at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada in June 1915. Oliver served in Salonika from December 1915, and was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant in the 22nd (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish) in June 1917. He was taken prisoner of war whilst serving with the Battalion north of Bullecourt, during the first day of the German Spring Offensive, 21 March 1918.

Oliver’s statement regarding the circumstance which led to his capture gives the following detail:

‘On 21st March 1918, I was in command of “B” Coy, 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers... Our battalion was the extreme right of the 34th Division and joined up with the 59th Division - the communication trench (Pelican Avenue) being the divisional boundary line - on our left was the 23rd N.F.

Starting at 4am we were subjected to a heavy bombardment lasting the entire day without intermission - by 6am all telephone communication was cut and it being impossible, owing to the heavy mist, to use the visual lamp - the only means of communication was by runner - an extremely difficult undertaking under the circumstances.

At 9am it was reported to me that the enemy had broken through at Bullecourt on our right and I then manned Pelican Avenue to form defensive flank. After repeated attempts to get messages through to battalion headquarters I was finally reinforced by 2 platoons...

At 5pm the enemy in overwhelming numbers broke through the flank and in danger of being entirely cut off, I made an attempt to get back to battalion headquarters but, owing to the shattered state of trench, I was overtaken and captured in the first wave of enemy storming troops.’

Sold with copied service papers.