Martin M Oliver 30th July 1945 killed by blast

Could anyone please add any info
Martin M Oliver
30th July 1945
Killed by blast

buried Wealdstone Cemetery NW London



thank you

 

Martin M Oliver in the England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007


Name: Martin M Oliver
Birth Date: abt 1931
Date of Registration: Sep 1945
Age at Death: 14
Registration district: Hastings
Inferred County: Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 22

Thats all I can find for the moment, but why you have a dedication in Wealdstone, and his death is registered some 4 - 5 weeks later in Hastings is ..........................................

TD

 

TD
Thank you
Just wondered if it was perhaps ordnance related
Not showing on CWGC

 

As he was only 15 years old ..............

A copy of the death cert would be interesting.................

Perhaps one of the other members could look up newspapers for that day. Maybe he was at a boarding school in Hastings and an accident happened, maybe they found something on the beach (ordnance etc) ................
TD

edited to add:
Cannot as yet find a birth in the England/Wales for him, possibly born overseas and sent back to school in UK

 

I'll see if I can find anything. Hastings makes it sound as if it was a mine on the beach, July would be in summer holidays and the family look to have lived in Wealdstone area and come to Hastings for the summer?
Death registrations usually are for the quarter, so September could relate to Jul - Aug-Sept?

Circumstantial only, but there are Olivers in Sussex,
OLIVER, LESLIE HERBERT. Rank: Guardsman. Service No: 2623403. Date of Death: 28/09/1944. Age: 21.
Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: III, A, 19. Cemetery: CASTIGLIONE SOUTH AFRICAN CEMETERY.
Additional Information: Son of Harry and Edith Grace Oliver, of Battle, Sussex.

OLIVER, PERCY JOHN. Rank: Private. Service No: SD/956. Date of Death: 21/05/1916. Age: 22.
Regiment/Service: Royal Sussex Regiment 11th Bn.
Grave Reference: V. D. 9. Cemetery: BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY.
Additional Information: Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Oliver, of 49, High St., Battle, Sussex.

 

thank you Kevin much appreciated

 

There is a Martin G who was born in Battle (1932) but he goes on to marry in 1956 so not him

Name: Martin G Oliver
Mother's Maiden Surname: Fisher
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1932
Registration district: Battle
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume Number: 2b
Page Number: 63

Still cannot find an England/Wales birth for him - do we know a member with access to the 1939 register thingy ?? check for Wealdstone and Hastings

TD

 

I think we have an answer, thanks to another forum I frequent...
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=10824.0;topicseen

The newspaper clipping is poor quality but mainly readable.
Martin Mackenzie Oliver was found dead at the foot of the 300 ft cliffs at Rock-a-Nore, Hastings.
The coroners report opined that his injuries compared more to those from a blast and not from falling down the cliff, but there was no evidence of a blast itself, nor did anyone hear an explosion......
His mother was Mrs Rosetta Oliver from Kempton Road, Harrow (fits with Wealdstone). His father was John Oliver, a professional singer.
They had been to hastings on holiday and on earlier visits, Martin had been warned about the dangers of the cliff.

The conclusion was that he had NOT fallen from the cliff but by blast, possibly from a mine washed ashore and the debris washed out again on the next tide.

I hope that answers your question CL1?
Thanks TD for finding the important link to Hastings!

 

TD

Many thanks for your help


Regards
Clive

 

Its part of the enjoyment to sort out these little intrigues - I think we all enjoy it when we find an answer, and its in the spirit of this forum.

to all

TD

onto the next one ..........................

 

Kevin
Great work and thank you
Solved but adds another mystery


Regards
Clive

 

... sure does.... what??????

 

Ah ha
I mean the killed by blast and not on CWGC

 

One point may be that as he was 'signed off' as having had 'blast injuries' and yet " but there was no evidence of a blast itself, nor did anyone hear an explosion......" - its also odd that very fortuitously all the 'blast' evidence happened to be swept out to sea :wink:

need Sherlock

TD

 

I think the address should be Kenton Road for the parents

 

CWGC probably can't accept this as being "due to enemy action" if no physical evidence of the "blast" found.
Possibly a verdict to spare the parents feelings, rather than believe he fell down the cliff.

To me the mystery is the absence of a birth registration, presumably recorded in Scotland as the Mackenzie might be a clue to his mothers maiden name and residence?

Agree on Kenton Road, no hit on "Kempton" - apologies, I blame the poor quality - or Specsavers!

 

Thank you Kevin

At least the almost unreadable headstone in a now closed for burial cemetery has been recognised

Regards
Clive

 

... but "Thank you" for raising it, always important when something that could be a Non Commemoration is found.
As others have said, it's helping to fill out the details that make these otherwise forgotten people come to our knowledge.
It's sometimes pitting my (half)wits to try and see if I can help.
Bit of a warm glow whenever it happens.

 

Kevin was right, his birth was registered in Hillhead Glasgow in 1930.

 

Thank you Guy