De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol. 1 page 274
William Olliff was born 29th March 1888, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the eldest son of William Olliff, Motor and Cycle Agent, of 13 Grainger Street West, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and his (late) wife Isabella.
He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, and served his apprenticeship at Messrs. C.A . Parsons and Co, Heaton Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He went to sea as an Engineer and took a 2nd Engineer's Certificate. He went to British Columbia in Canada in February 1913. William worked for a time at the Esquimault Dockyard then left their employment to work in the Motor Trade in Victoria.
On his service record he is recorded as being 5 feet 10 inches high, Brown eyes and Black hair, he also had served in the 88th Volunteer Force. His trade was recorded as a Drayman. Him and his father resided at 98, Brighton Grove, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
He had enlisted on the 9th February 1915, at Larkhill. and joined the Victoria Rifles. He was one of a hundred picked men for the Princess Patricia Light Infantry, but was drafted into the 16th Battalion Canadian Scottish (Gordon Highlanders), and only after a fortnight in England went to France with his regiment.
He survived the heavy fighting at Ypres, but was killed by a high explosive shell while resting by the roadside on the night of 26/27th April 1915.
He was unmarried. Private Olliff had been offered a commission, but as this entailed a return to Canada, he refused it.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
He is remembered in Jesmond J1.04 and in J1.19 page 43, and on Newcastle NUT070 and Fenham F31.07
Note the CWGC entry records the 22nd April 1915 as his date of death.
