Pte 15752 Arthur Cope Olley

Arthur Cope Olley was born in Liverpool on 23rd July 1890, the son of Henry Olley and Eleanor Mary Stilliard (née Cope). Henry, born in Liverpool, and Eleanor, in Nottingham, married in Liverpool in 1888.  His mother was a widow who had married James Allen in 1880 and had three daughters:  Eleanor G Allen in 1881, Frances Cope Allen in 1882, and Alice J Allen in 1885, who died in infancy.  Eleanor G died at the age of 8 in 1889.

 

His parents had Martin in 1888 and Eleanor in 1900. All three children had the middle name Cope.

 

Arthur was baptised in St. Peter’s, Liverpool, on 5th August 1890, his parents’ residence given as West Derby and his father’s occupation listed as sail maker.

 

In 1901 his parents are living at 3 Sterne Street, Liverpool, with four children.  His father is 40, a school caretaker.  His half sister Frances is 18, a general domestic servant, Martin is 12, Arthur 9 and Eleanor 1.

 

They are still at 3 Sterne Street in 1911. His father is 50, a school caretaker for the municipal council, his mother is 49, Arthur is 20, a stock broker’s clerk, and Eleanor is 11.  His brother Martin had emigrated to the United States in 1910 when he was 21, with his uncle George Olley.  

 

Arthur enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 03/09/1914, joining the 17th Battalion as Private 15752. He gave his age as 24 years and 4 days, his employment is noted as a Clerk. He is described as being 5' 3 and half inches tall, weighed 114lb, is of fair complexion with light blue eyes and flaxen hair. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was wounded on 12th November 1916. His service record shows that he received Gun Shot Wounds to his left shoulder, leg and eye. He received treatment at St John's hospital in Etaples.

Arthur died at 11.30am on 25th January 1917 aged 26 and he now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery in France.

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

His death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 30th January 1917:

“Died from wounds received in action, Private Arthur Cope, K.L.R., the dearly beloved second son of Henry and Eleanor Olley, 3, Sterne Street.  Deeply regretted.” 

An In Memoriam notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo on 26th January 1918

OLLEY - In ever loving memory of ARTHUR COPE, dearly beloved youngest son of Henry and Eleanor, late of the K.L.R., who died of wounds received in action January 25, 1917. - Never forgotten by Dad, Mam, Brothers and Sisters at 3 Sterne Street.

His parents received Arthur’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £10-10s. His personal belongings and his medals were sent to his father. These included: Letters, photos, cards, card case, ?, cig holder in silver case, ?, gold ring, knife and fork. ?

The pension card shows his mother at 3 Sterne Street, Boaler Street, but amount, if any, is not specified.

 

His father, living in Nimrod Street, Walton, died in 1934 aged 74, effects £543-4s-4d to Eleanor Mary Stilliard Olley. In 1939 his mother, 77,  was living with sister Eleanor, 39, at 67 Nimrod Street.  

 

His mother died in February 1945 aged 82, effects £754-19s-9d to daughter Frances (now Rimmer).  A month later daughter Eleanor died, aged 44.

 

His brother Martin returned to England when war broke out and served in King Edward’s Horse and later the Machine Gun Corps.  He was wounded twice but survived the war.  He left again for the U.S. in 1921, became a U.S. citizen and died in California in 1966.

 

Arthur is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Butler Street Council School

St. Phillip and St.David Church, Newsham Park

Liverpool Stock Exchange Memorial which is now housed inside Our Lady and St Nicholas Church in Liverpool.