OLIVER Noel William Cornock

Noel William Cornock Oliver was born in Hawkhurst, Kent in 1895, the son of Son of William Thomas and Jeanette Constance Oliver. He was baptised at Hawkhurst on 17th March 1895. His mother, Jeannetta died in 1899, her death aged 29 is recorded in the December Quarter 1899 under the Cranbrook Registration District. In 1901 William as a widower aged 36 was resident at Vale Road, Hawkhurst with 6 year old Noel and his 3 year old sister Jeannetta M.F. Oliver. William’s widowed mother Martha Oliver aged 67 was living with the family as a Housekeeper. In 1902 William married Mary Leah Hancliff and at some point before the 1911 census the family moved to Worcestershire where they resided at 17,Princess Road, Evesham.

In 1910 Noel joined the Royal Navy joining HMS Impregnable on 25th October 1910, serving as a Boy Class II. He served on 3 further ships, rising to the rank of Boy Class I by 14th January 1913 when he enlisted in the Royal Navy for a period of 12 years as an Ordinary Seaman. On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 14th January 1895 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent and his occupation as a Blacksmith’s mate. At the time of his attestation at the age of 18, Noel was 5 feet 5¾ inches tall with black hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He served on several ships until he was invalided from the Navy with the rank of Able Bodied on 3rd November 1915 due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Noel died in Evesham in 1916. His death at the age of 21 is registered in the June Quarter 1916 under the Evesham Registration District.