Oliver, George Johnston

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George Johnston Oliver
23 February 1892 – 1968
Oliver, George Johnston portrait.jpg
Place of birth Dunbar Berwickshire, Scotland
Place of burial Brandon Manitoba
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Canadian Army
Rank Sergeant
Awards DCM, MM with 2 bars

Sergeant George Johnston Oliver (23 February 1892 – 1968) was a soldier of the First World War. He distinguished himself in major battles and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as well as the Military Medal with two bars, one of only five Canadians in the First World War to have been recognized as such.[1]

Early Life

George Johnston Oliver was born in Dunbar Berwickshire, Scotland on 23 February 1892. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1907.

Service

He enlisted with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons when war was declared in 1914 and arrived with the 1st Canadian Division at St. Nazaire on 1 April 1915. Oliver served as an infantryman in the 5th Battalion, experiencing the first German gas attacks on the Western Front at the Second Battle of Ypres and the fighting at Festubert before being attached to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters as a signaller. He was then transferred to the 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company on 21 December 1915.

As part of No. 3 Section providing communications to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters, he spent the remainder of the war as a lineman, maintaining telephone communications between the attacking battalions and 2nd Brigade Headquarters. This was a very dangerous job that exposed the men to enemy fire as they struggled through the heavily shelled landscapes, installing and repairing the telephone lines. George served throughout 1916, surviving all the battles unscathed, including the bloody fighting on the Somme. The attack on Vimy Ridge, which began at 0530 on 9 April, 1917 the Brigade Signal Sections moved up following the third wave of attacking infantry. No. 3 Section sent an advanced party immediately behind the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the center of the 2nd Brigade attack. This advanced party laid two lines between the attacking battalions and the Brigade Report center. This work was so efficiently carried out that all Battalions were in contact with the Brigade Headquarters by 0900 hours. Signaller Oliver was singled out in the war diary, for his conduct at Vimy Ridge. George was subsequently awarded the Military Medal[2] for bravery for this action. On 5 June 1917 he was promoted to Acting Corporal. The victory at Vimy Ridge was followed by successes at Arleaux and Fresnoy. The next major battle for the Canadian Corps was at Hill 70. The assaulting elements of 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade went over the top at 0425 on 15 August 1917. The brigade moved back to rest on 19 August. Throughout the attack, signallers again followed the infantry closely and were able to ensure excellent telephone communications. Acting Corporal Oliver was awarded a second Military Medal[3] for bravery at Hill 70.

The year 1917 closed with costly Canadian attacks at Passchendaele. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was part of the final attacks on 10 November which were designed to secure the Canadian hold on the highest portions of the Passchendaele Ridge, namely: Hill 62, Venture Farm and Vindictive Crossroads. Acting Corporal Oliver was awarded his third Military Medal[4] for bravery for his actions in supporting the capture of Hill 62 by the 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Battalions. George was made a substantive Corporal on 26 December.

In 1918, the Canadian Corps helped to defeat the German spring offensive, and then lead the Allied attacks that ultimately broke the stalemate on the Western Front. These attacks began on 8 August 1918 at Amiens and continued until the Armistice on 11 November. Corporal Oliver was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal[5] that fall.

Personal Life

In October 1917, when he was granted leave, George went back to Leith, Scotland, and married Isabella Fisher Borthwick, his childhood sweetheart.

After the war he and his wife returned home to Brandon Manitoba where George got a job working for the Manitoba Telephone System in 1919. He and his wife had four children. George led a full life and was a Scout Master in the 20s and 30s, served with the Veteran Guard of Canada during the Second World War, was honoured with the Medal of Serving Brothers of Order of St. John, and retired after 37 years with the Manitoba Telephone System in 1956. George died in 1968 and is buried beside his wife, who died in 1974, in Brandon Cemetery.

Distinguished Conduct Medal Citation

Sergeant Oliver's DCM citation[6] reads:

For marked gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack east of the Canal du Nord from 27th to 30th September, 1918. He was the N.C.O. i./c. of the party of signallers. Shortly after starting forward he found that the infantry had passed over a machine-gun nest which was sweeping the western bank of the canal. Immediately he telephoned his brigade, and artillery fire was directed on the nest and all but one machine gun was put out of action. He then got in rear of the machine gun and rushed it single handed, shot four of the crew with his revolver, and took the fifth prisoner. He did splendid work.

Military Medal Citation

Cpl Oliver's MM citation reads:

During the capture of VIMY RIDGE on April 9th 1917, near THELUS, he repeatedly repaired telephone wires under heavy enemy barrage. He worked continuously for 48 hours repairing wires, showing a total disregard for danger. His courage and initiative were mainly responsible for the success of communications during the operation.

First Bar to the Military Medal Citation

Cpl Oliver's citation for his first bar to the MM reads:

For conspicuous gallantry on 15th Aug 1917. He continually repaired telephone wires running forward to the attacking Companies through a heavy enemy barrage. Although buried three times he still carried on. His pluck and determination was responsible for the maintenance of telephonic communication, and enabled much valuable information to be to be transmitted to the rear.

Second Bar to the Military Medal Citation

Cpl Oliver's citation for his second bar to the MM reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty Nov: 8th to 11th 1917 inclusive, during the operations against PASCHENDAELE RIDGE. Cpl OLIVER went forward on Nov: 8th and was practically on duty continuously as linesman and runner. On the morning of the attack he made seven trips through the heaviest of the enemy barrage, mending the lines and carrying despatches. his courage perseverance and resourcefulness were an inspiration to the men of the Section.

Related Items

References

  1. ↑ with material from an article by Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Don Banks CMM, CD which appeared in the magazine Remembrance: A salute to Canada's Fallen, Volume 2 published by the National Wall of Remembrance Association.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 30172. 6 July, 1917. Page 6843.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 30389. 16 November, 1917. Page 11961.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 30578. 12 March, 1918. Page 3223.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 31225. 11 March, 1919. Page 3391.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 31668. 28 November, 1919. Page 14902.