Hi Floyd. What a true statement about your dad. As I wasn't born until 1946 I only have photos to compare my dad in 1939 to how he looked in 1945.he was about 35 when called up right at the start in 1939.. He was a Rolls Royce trained mechanic/driver and they must have commandeered the list of such people and called them up.Oddly the army being what  it was ,he spent the first year and a half behind an anti aircraft battery guarding the Chain Home radar mast at Staxton Bank near Scarborough.Certainly an easier posting than Scapa.He was then shipped round Africa to Suez and spent a couple of years in the western desert and somehow contracted Malaria in the Italian campaign.He was plagued with bouts  of malaria right up to being about 60 and he was one of the men who didn't talk much about the war afterwards and he didn't even claim his campaign medals. It was sad to see the gradual decline of such a strong man.He passed away at 85 and my mum mollie {mary ann oliver}died about 5 yrs later. Through this website I have discovered much I did not know about her and the Olivers of her generation and cousins I did not know about before.I do hope that you have a similarly happy experience.....best wishes      ... phil hume

Hello Floyd. Very interested in you dad being at what was known as Scapa Flow a large natural harbour in the Orkneys. It was used as the main anchorage for the navys  main battle fleet during world war one ,and was where the german high seas fleet was scuttled by its own crews after being held there at wars end.As world war 2 loomed Churchill ordered more blockships to be sunk between some of the islands to prevent access by enemy submarine.However one U boat early in the war ,U47 was sent there to hopefully catch many British ships there.He managed to get in at high tide and sink HMS Royal Oak , a large but old battleship.The german captain Gunther Prien thought he had sunk another battleship but the explosions he heard were his torpedos exploding on the shore.He safely got out of Scapa and returned to Germany a hero.Im not sure about the casualties but it could have been maybe 800 including a large number of naval boy  recruits. some of the gaps between islands were filled in and I don't think the germans ever tried to repeat the  attack. It would have been a most depressing place for your dad to serve. cold , stormy and an almost continuous wind over the islands which were all very low ,no tree cover and absolutely nothing to do when off duty.Do you know how long he was there and where he went afterwards. Some of the South Lancs fought a rearguard action at Dunkirk and some including a late neighbour of mine went into Japanese captivity after the fall of Singapore in 1942. Very happy to meet you through this forum.......Phil Hume

It's with Floyds kind permission that I'm pleased to share here a couple of really lovely photographs from Floyds line of the Oliver Family.

 

The first photograph is of Floyds father, George Oliver who was born in 1903, son of Tom Oliver (b.1874),  grandson of Stephen Oliver (b.1831)

The second are George's children/Floyd and his sisters, Muriel at the top born in 1925, Doreen next down born 1923 and then Floyd himself in the car born 1931.

Then here is a little tree diagram expanding on Floyds branch - interesting that the right side, George down, all emigrated to Canada whilst the left side have been and still are very much in the Bradford, England area - so as you mentioned above Phil, just a stones throw away from quite close cousins in Wharfdale.



Very nice to see these Floyd, thank you for sharing - let me know if I have anything wrong!

Quick question if I may please Floyd, I can't quite make out the writing on your Dad shoulder badge, does is say South Lancashire? I'm not an expert on badges and insignia, but the badge below the words looks like a Leading Seaman Rank Badge - would be interested should you know more on the military details of Dad?

Ok, that almost a night for me!

Thanks,
Shane

 

Hello Floyd. I see from  the last posting by Shane that the address you gave as where you were stopping in Bradford was  only about a dozen miles from relatives you probably did not know existed at Otley and Burley in Wharfedale..kindest regards     phil hume.   posting as ancient rowman

The little tree diagram as promised!

Thanks,
Shane

Hi Floyd,

Lovely to see you so warmly welcomed here, and I extend that welcome from me also - we're really covering the map of Canada now with Olivers and Oliver descendants across the country;  British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and now Alberta, wonderful!

Here is the tree diagram Phil refer's to. We can see Tom your Grandfather b.1874 here, son of Stephen and Margaret, generationally you would at the same level as the 8 brothers and sisters with photographs - so, second cousins I think that is (will check that!)

I will post more of a tree diagram and the connection later this evening, but I have to echo, what a remarkable family likeness!

Thanks for now,
Shane

THATS ****ERMOUTH CUMBRIA BY THE WAY

Hello, you certainly look like a Hartlepool Oliver your resemblance to my Uncle George is quite remarkable, his brother Charles emigrated to Canada in the 1050's.