Name
Charles Ernest Olney
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/01/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
M/300886
Army Service Corps
M.T.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DURBAN (STELLAWOOD) CEMETERY
F 49
South Africa
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Northaw Village Memorial, Not on the Shenley memorials
Pre War
Charles Ernest Olney was born about 1879 in Shenley, the son of Charles and Ann Olney, and was baptised at Shenley on 30 July 1879. He was one of five children, Herbert, Harry, Charles, Sydney and Frank.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at the 'Cottage over the Stables' at Porters Park, Ridge, Shenley, Hertfordshire where his father was working as a coachman (domestic).
His father died on 11 September 1890 at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, London and on the 1891 Census Charles was living with his widowed mother and 2 brothers in Northaw, Herts.
He married Florence Elizabeth Beer on 10 January 1904 at St Cuthbert's Church, Hampstead, London and they had three children, Charles, Sydney and Lilian. By 1911 he was employed as a coachman and the family were living at 12, Kings College Mews East, Kings College Road, Hampstead, London.
On enlistment he was living at 38 Vorley Road, Upper Holloway, North London and gave his occupation as motor driver. His mother continued to live in Northaw at Nyn Cottage until her death in 1915 aged 69.
Wartime Service
Charles attested in Holloway, Middlesex on 11 December 1915 and was placed in the Army Reserve until mobilised on 14 March 1917 when he was posted to the Army Service Corps.
He was sent to Italy with 942 Company from 12 April 1917 to 29 April 1917 then returned to England until 27 September 1917 when he left Devonport on board the HT Honorata on 28 September 1917. He was then transferred to the HT Caronia and disembarked at Kilwa, (present day Tanzania) on 13 November 1917.
He is recorded as suffering from malaria on 12 -17 December 1917 but remained in East Africa until his death on 13 January 1918, aged 39, when he died on board the hospital ship 'Neuralia' from from broncho pneumonia. He is buried in Durban (Stellawood) Cemetery, South Africa.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £12 14s 3s, She also received a pension of £1 9s 7d a week for herself and her three children.
Pension records give her address as 10 Vorley Road, Upper Holloway.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brian Lodge,