Oliver Saunders Markham

A Lance Corporal with the 1/4th Battalion. Oliver died on 11th of March 1915 at the age of 28. 

Oliver was born at Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire, in 1887, a son of William Henry and Hannah Elizabeth Markham. In 1891 his family lived at 49 Post Street, Godmanchester. By 1901 his family were living at 141 High Street, Huntingdon. At some point his parents lived at Letwell House, Godmanchester.  

By 1911 Oliver had moved to Lowestoft and lived with his uncle and aunt, Thomas and Emma Curtis, at 116 Bevan Street, Lowestoft. Oliver worked as a plumber and decorator with his uncle Thomas. 

Oliver enlisted in the 1/4th Suffolk Regiment on 1 September 1914. He landed in France, with the Battalion, on 8 November 1914 and he served with F Company.

Oliver wrote a letter to his uncle describing his experiences in December 1914 and the letter was published in the Ipswich Evening Star and Herald on 4 January 1915, page 3. In the letter Oliver described being fired at by snipers and Sergeant Roach, of Lowestoft, and another man being wounded by sniper fire. Oliver continued:

'It was a very exciting experience, and one that we may not get again. Out here it was what one of our officers called 'Hell with the lid off'. Well I thought it was hot!'

Oliver was wounded at Neuve Chapelle. 

The Cambridge Independent Press of 26 March 1915, page 6, gave this account. 

'News has been received at Godmanchester that Oliver Markham, second son of Mr. W.H. Markham of Godmanchester of the 3rd Battalion (sic) Suffolk Regiment (Territorials), has been wounded at the front. He was in a very fierce engagement, and was shot in the forehead, the missile taking a slanting direction. His brother saw him fall, and states that the doctor said he did not think the wound was dangerous. He is in hospital in France.'

By the time this notice was published Oliver had already died of his wounds.     

NOTE: Oliver's brother Thomas served with him in the 1/4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, number 2263, and was discharged to a commission in the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion in October 1915.