Morpeth Herald 07/01/1916 carries an obituary:
SECOND-LIEUT. R. OLIVER
Second-Lieut. Robert Oliver, elder son of Mr W.L. Oliver, of the firm Messrs R. Oliver and Sons, Morpeth, has been mentioned in a recent despatch from Sir John French for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
Second-Lieut. Oliver enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion as a private on September 15th, 1914, and was for the first three months at Epsom. He received his commission on 5th January, 1915, and was attached to the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers.
He went out with the 21st Division to France and immediately proceeded with his regiment to the firing line and took part in the great battle at Loos. He was last seen on the parapet of a German trench on Hill 70, and was officially reported missing on September 26th. Since then nothing more has been heard of him.
In a letter to Mrs Oliver the captain of his company states that Second-Lieutenant Oliver acted in a most cool and courageous manner in action, and that his platoon had been singled out for special praise by the Divisional General for the work they did.
Second-Lieut. Oliver was educated at the Morpeth Grammar School and Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh. He was a keen photographer, and two years ago won the challenge cup in connection with the Camera Club exhibition held under the auspices of the Young Men’s Christian Association at Morpeth. He was 20 years of age.
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
Robert Oliver was born about 1895, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Oliver of Northfield Villa, Morpeth. He was a Lieutenant in the 12th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and was mentioned in despatches and in the London Gazette for "gallant and distinguished conduct in the field".
In the 1901 census the 5 year-old Robert lived with his family at Greenfield, Kings Avenue, Morpeth. The head of the household was his father, William Lyle Oliver, 36, who was a "miller of flour" and an employer. William’s wife was 33 year-old Jane who did not work. All three of the Olivers were born in Morpeth. Two other members of the household were young women servants: Mary Ann Robson, 23, and Annie Towers, 19. Both were single and described as "general servant domestic". Mary was born in Felton and Annie in Redesdale.
By 1911 the family had been joined by William Lyle Oliver who was 8 at the time. The servants had been replaced by 20 year-old Lily Richley, single, house maid (domestic), worker, born in Choppington and Mary Dawson, 24, single, cook (domestic), worker, born in Lesbury. The head of the household, William senior, was described as miller and baker, employer and working at home. They still lived at Greenfield. Robert was 15 and had not left school.
Robert Oliver died on the 25th September 1915 aged 20. He is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial.
Reports give his rank as "2nd Lieutenant" but the CWGC entry gives "Lieutenant"
Robert Oliver is remembered at Morpeth on M17.01, M17.06, M17.09, M17.10, M17.12, M17.16, M17.18 and M17.29
