Timothy Oliver, born in 1882 was the son of John Oliver and Fanny Oliver, he had two brother’s Thomas and Samuel and three sisters, Emily, Lavinia and Annie. He was married to Jane Ann Claxton of Hull in 1904; Jane had been a packer on the “starch – blue line”, at Reckitt’s before she was married to Timothy. In 1901 he was listed at St. George’s Barracks in London serving with the Coldstream Guards, but by 1911 he was in the Durham Constabulary as a police constable. He would have been recalled at the beginning of the Great War and was part of the British Expeditionary Force sent to France at the outbreak of war in August 1914. He was wounded in a bayonet charge at La Basse, France, in 1914 and died of wounds on Christmas day, at Givenchy. With him at this time, was his cousin Sgt. T. Grant, who was wounded trying to save him (This was probably the son of Mr. T. Grant, who is listed as gardener at Walkington Hall in the 1911 census.) Timothy Oliver was the second man with Walkington connections to die in the War. He is mentioned in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour and on the East Riding Memorial in the Beverley Minster. His body was destroyed in the battle and he is recorded on the Le Touret Memorial to the Missing, Bethune, France. He left a wife Jane and three children John Timothy aged 7 years, Gertrude aged 5 years and Annie aged 3 years. There are numerous Oliver’s buried in Walkington churchyard, Timothy’s photograph appeared in the Beverley Guardian for January 1915, he is listed under the roll of honour where it states he is from one of the oldest families in the East Riding. The Beverley Guardian confirmed the prevalence of the Oliver family in an article headed: “Seventeen lads with the Colours” – Mr Oliver Murphy of Cromwell Abbey, Walkington, now holds the proud distinction (as well as the Walkington record) of having 17 near descendants in HM forces. The old gentleman himself served with distinction in the American War and his 5 sons have followed in their fathers military footsteps. One son, Private J. Oliver who belongs to and came with a Canadian regiment, recently made a flying visit to his father and mother. Another son Cromwell after nine years in America came over last week on a visit and was prevailed upon by his father to enrol under Lord Derby’s scheme which he did and is presently at York. His son Richard Oliver, father of gunner Edwin Oliver R.F.A .who was born at Loos has also joined the Walkington Volunteers. In addition to the above Mr Oliver de Murphy has at present four sons in laws and eight grandsons serving their King and Country for which one Oliver (Timothy) has laid down his life.
Note: the additional aristocratic name – ending de Murphy was added for postal purposes owing to there being so many branches of Oliver in Walkington.
