Cpl 15340 Andrew Ollason

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 4th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Andrew Ollason was born 7^th June 1889 at Liverpool and was baptised 15^th September 1889 at St Matthew, C. of E. Church, Toxteth, Liverpool. He was the son of Laurence and Jane Ollason (nee Winchester) who had married in 1875 at Lerwick, Scotland. Andrew had been educated at Liverpool Collegiate School and prior to the outbreak of war he had been employed by Cunard.

On the 1891 census the family are living at 86 South Chester St, Toxteth.

The Father Laurence 45 is a police constable b.Shetland Isles, his wife Jane 41 b.Shetland Isles, children Robert 15 a scholar b.Shetland Isles, John L. 11 a scholar b.Liverpool, William G. 7 a scholar b.Liverpool, Daniel J. 4 b.Liverpool, Andrew 1 b.Liverpool. They also have 5 boarders.

On the 1901 census the family have moved to 89 Upper Hill St, Toxteth.

Father Laurence 55 a police constable, wife Jane 51, and their five children John L. 21, William G. 17, Daniel J. 14, Andrew 11, Cameron aged 6 who was born in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Weldon Street, Walton, Liverpool.

His father Laurence aged 66, born  in the Shetland Islands in 1845 is a police pensioner whilst his mother, Jane, is aged 61, born in 1850 also in the Shetlands. They have been married for thirty six years and have had five children of which two have died. Those recorded are; William aged 27, born 1884 a sorting clerk and telegraphist for the Post Office, Andrew aged 21, born 1890 is a shipping clerk at Cunard and Gifford aged 16, born 1895 is at school. At the time of the Census they had a boarder William Deane a retired tutor aged 67, born 1844 from Forbes, Aberdeenshire.

Andrew enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 15340 when he was killed in action on the 4th August, 1917 aged 28 during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). 

The 17th Battalion Diary groups the action of the opening day of the offensive up to the relief of the Battalion on 04th August as follows: 

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August. 

Andrew was one of those casualties referred to in the diary.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Sept 1917 - Ollason, 15340, Cpl A. (Salisbury);

Andrew's death was reported in the local press:

OLLASON -  July 31, killed in action, age 28 years, Corporal Andrew Ollason, K.L.R., dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs Laurence Ollason, 40 Arundel Avenue

He is commemorated on the family headstone at Toxteth Park Cemetery and on the Cunard Steam Ship Co Roll of Honour and plaques.

Andrew had married Rose Ann Byrne in 1917 at Salisbury, and his Effects and Pension went to his widow Rose Ann(dob 4th Aug 1890).

His father Laurence died in 1931 and his wife Jane died in 1934.

We currently have no further information on Andrew Ollason, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Brother awarded O.B.E. - Liverpool Echo 26th Jan 1940

DEATH OF LIVERPOOL P.O. WORKER

The death has taken place of Mr William George Ollason, superintendent of the Telegraphs Department of the Liverpool General Post Office, whose home was in Cavendish House, Cavendish Road, Blundellsands. Mr Ollason had served the Post Office for 40 years and was awarded a medal of the O.B.E. in King George VI's Coronation Honours List in August 1937. A valuable worker for the Union of the Post Office Workers both nationally and locally. Mr Ollason served on the headquarters council of the Institute of Public Administration. He also served on the Civil Service Defence Committee and the P.O. Whitley Council. For several years he was central secretary of Union of P.O. Workers. His death occurred in hospital after a short illness.

W.G's service records have survived, he attested 29th Aug 1916 in Seaforth, transferring to Class W. Reserve of Signals 12th Nov 1917.

We currently have no further information on Andrew Ollason, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.