Heslop's Local Advertiser
Ypres Town Cemetery Extension
Ypres Town Cemetery Extension
Elizabeth Olsen nee Devlin
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Olsen, known as Harry, was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1886, one of 5 children of whom only 4 survived, he was the youngest of his siblings and the second born of 2 sons and 2 daughters. His father Carl Christian Olsen, known as Charles, was born January 4th 1849 at Frederikshavn, Jutland, Denmark and married at South Shields in 1873 to Elizabeth Devlin native of Felling born 1853.
Charles Christian Olsen was a mariner, in 1881 he was serving as an Able Seaman aboard the Spanish schooner SS Gogo whilst Elizabeth was living with new born Charles Jnr at East Terrace, Felling. He spent time working on shore as a chemical labourer and the family now consisting of his wife and 4 children, Charles (10), Catherine (8), Henry (5) and Margaret, known as Meggie, (2) had moved to Friars Goose, Felling. Charles Christian Olsen, listed as a foreman, died aged 51 years, February 21st 1900 of burns sustained working on an overflow boiler. His widow received all his effects and the sum of 5 pounds. After his death she was supported by her children Charles (20) was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer, Catherine (18) as a letter press print machinist, Henry (15) a pattern maker’s apprentice, Margaret (12) remained at home with her mother. By 1911 both Henry and Margaret were married, Charles now worked at the colliery as a hewer, Catherine was still employed at the print works.
Henry married at Gateshead in 1909 to Margaret Callaghan born April 13th 1890 at Felling and with whom he had a daughter Margaret born during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1909. Now a qualified pattern maker he was employed as a fitter and turner for a forge master and general engineering company. They lived in 2 rooms at 21, East Terrace, Friars Goose, Felling. Between 1911 and 1912 they transferred to Sunderland, Margaret gave birth to Charles Henry Jnr, February 22nd 1912, unfortunately their daughter Margaret died aged 3 years during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1913, a tragic experience for the family prior to the birth of Elizabeth, December 25th 1913.
In 1914 Henry enlisted at Gateshead as Harry Olsen, assigned as Private 1802 Royal Engineers. He joined them at their Head Quarters at Barrass Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The main body of men returned from their annual training camp August 3rd 1914 and the next day were mobilised and garrisoned the Tyne Defences as part of the Central Force and Home Defence but also began training for war. Harry was part of the ‘2nd Line’ unit that was authorised, August 31st 1914, to be raised by the Territorial Force distinguished by the 1st/2nd and 3rd made up of men who had volunteered for home service and all the new volunteers that were flooding in. The 3rd was organised to find drafts for the 1st and 2nd to be trained for service overseas. Training complete Harry was transferred to the 1st/1st Northumbrian Division Signal Coy Royal Engineers, later they were renumbered as the 50th (Northumbrian) Signal Coy Royal Engineers. During his training period Private Olsen rose to the rank of Sergeant.
The 50th Northumbrian Division was informed in early April 1915 it would soon be sent to France, they embarked at Southampton and Folkestone April 16th. Once disembarked in France the Division was concentrated near Steenvoorde by April 23rd 1915. It was thrown into action the very next day at the Battle of St. Julien taking up positions along the Yser canal and then counter attacking. The infantry were involved in bitter fighting meanwhile Sergeant Olsen as part of the divisional engineers was left at Steenvoorde until being sent up to work on a new defence line near Hill 60.
Sergeant Harry Olsen 1802 50th (Northumbrian) Signal Coy Royal Engineers was killed in action April 25th 1915, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades and marked with a cross. After Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields his grave was found at map reference I. 5. b. 6. 3. still marked with a cross which read, “Sacred to the memory of 1802 Sgt. H. Olsen 50/ (Northumbrian) Sig. Coy, R.E. Killed 25/4/15”. His remains were brought into Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, West Vlaanderen, Ypres, Belgium, for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, January 25th 1919, he is at rest grave III. E. 9. At the time of his demise he was 29 years old.
His widow Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their daughter and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Friars Goose, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. Private Olsen was also mentioned in despatches.
His brother Charles Olsenserved during WW1 as Private 19850 assigned to the Durham Light Infantry, battalion unknown. He served in France and Belgium, recipient of the Military Medal awarded to personnel of the British Army and Commonwealth countries for bravery in battle on land, the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He survived the conflict of WW1 and died at Gateshead, County Durham, during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1963 aged 82 years.
After the death of his father, Charles Henry Jnr, known as Harry to his family, was initially cared for by his paternal grandmother. At the age of 11 he attended Ushaw College Catholic Seminary and in 1939, aged 27 years, he is listed at St. Philip Neri Primary School, Ellison Road, Dunston, Gateshead, (parish of Whickham), as a clerk in Holy Orders. Father Charles Henry Olsen after his ordination taught mathematics at Ushaw College before taking over the parish of St. Joseph, Gilesgate, City of Durham. At the time of his demise, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in 1996, aged 84 years, he was a Cannon in the Catholic Church.
His sister Elizabeth, affectionately known by the family as Lily, lived with her mother, in the census of 1939 they were residing at 62, Chilside Road, Felling, Gateshead, Elizabeth (Lily) was employed as a tailoress trouser finisher. Her mother Margaret Olsen nee Callaghan died aged 87 years in 1977, Elizabeth Olsen never married and died in 1995 aged 81 years, both deaths registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
Private Olsen’s mother Elizabeth Olsen nee Devlin died aged 83 in 1938 registered Durham NE.
The CWGC have recorded the death of Sergeant Olsen as April 26th 1915, it should be noted that Concentration of Graves documents state April 25th 1915 as did the cross found on his grave.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 21/05/1915.
Henry Olsen is remembered at Felling on F32.06and F32.24 and at Gateshead on G39.003
