Charleson Oliver Fusilier 4275800
Personnel Entry
Name Charleson Oliver
Army number 4275800
Rank Fusilier
Decorations None known.
Date of birth 24/1/1917. Birth registered 1917 at South Shields. Mother's maiden surname Murray.
Age 27 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Posted to the 9th Battalion. Served B.E.F.? Served Malaya. DIED at sea 12/9/1944 whilst a prisoner of the Japanese and being transported from Singapore to Japan, when the Rakuyo Maru was torpedoed by an Allied submarine. Reported MISSING by the Japanese.
Company/Battery Y Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known.
Joined Brigade
Promotions None known.
Wounded Not as far as is known.
Prisoner of War Yes - captured 15/2/1942 at Singapore when the force was surrendered.
Died/Killed in action DIED 12/9/1944 - cause of death - drowning. Commemorated on Column 46 of the Singapore Memorial as presumably Oliver's remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 1/4/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to Oliver Charleson, miner (Oliver's father).
Home address Son of Oliver and Ethel Charleson. At the time of the 1939 General Register, Oliver was a single man living with his family at 15, Berham Street and working as an Ironfoundry Labourer. He had already been accepted as a Special Constable. Oliver married Mary Binks in Q2, 1940 at South Shields. Husband of Mary Charleson of 158, Ashley Road, South Shields.
Source table
To read a detailed article from the Imperial War Museum on the sinkings of Japanese transports please click here.
