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1877170
Sapper
George Henry Oliver
‘Eric Oliver’ was his true name
1920/03/16 - Born Spilsby, Lincolnshire
His birth mother, Alice Ethel Horton, died in childbirth
1921 Census - He was living at Ashby, Spilsby with Elizabeth and Elsie Parish
Ellen Squire became his step-mother
1923 - Ellen married Garnet Oliver in Horncastle, Lincolnshire
Eric was then, son of Garnet and Ellen (nee Squires) Oliver
Next of Kin Parents, Garnet and Ellen Oliver, Spilsby, Partney, Lincolnshire
Royal Engineers
40 Fortress Company
Service
Eric gave the false name of George Henry Oliver, and also false date of birth when he enlisted in 1936, as he was only 16 years old.
The 40th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers, comprised of approximately seven officers and 220 men, under the command of Major Donald Maitland Murray. It was a specialised unit tasked with coastal defence of Hong Kong.
The Japanese entered the Second World War by bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Malaya and Hong Kong on the 8th December 1941. The 40th Fortress Company was attached to Fortress HQ RE and formed part of the British garrison, placed under ‘China Command and Supporting Units. The company was involved in demolition and defensive efforts before being overrun and captured when Hong Kong surrendered on the 25th December 1941.
1941/12/25 - Reported ‘Missing’
1942/09/17 - Reported a ‘Prisoner of War’
1945/09/45 - WO417/96_2, Casualty List No. 1864. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 904 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Hong Kong.
Japanese PoW
1941/12/25 - Captured Hong Kong
Shamshuipo Camp
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/09/04 - Transported in Shi Maru to Yokokama, Japan, First Draft
The 620 PoWs were mainly from Shamshuipo Camp, Hong Kong who wouldn’t sign the ‘No Escape’ paper
1942/09/15 - Arrived Yohohama, Japan
Tokyo 3B Stadium Camp
1945/08/30 - Liberated Tokyo
Repatriation
USS Admiral Hughes
1945/09/24 - Departed Manila,
1945/10/09 - British disembarked Victoria, Canada.
Eric shown embarking into the Ile de France
British then entrained to Halifax on the East Coast, and transported in the Ile de France to the UK and home.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
Post War
1950 - Eric married Constance E Huddlestone at Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Eric passed away 12th June 2010
Information
Duncan Lill - Grandson
Hong Kong
Japanese Transports
Tokyo 3B - Stadium Camp
Transport Home
All the KEW Documents name him ‘George Henry Oliver’ but he is named as Eric Garnet Oliver in Roger Mansell’s list he sent me to include in the Roll of Honour.
KEW:- WO 392/25, WO 361/1970, WO 361/1970, WO 345/39, WO 345/28, WO 361/1984,
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