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Rfm. John Gerald Oliver
Army 9th Btn. B Coy. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
from:Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
(d.26th Sep 1944)
My great uncle John Oliver was killed in fighting near the railway lines in the village of Best, Holland, on 26th September 1944, we believe he was a member of B Coy. He is mentioned on the memorial in the village and buried at Bergen-Op-Zoom in Belgium, having been moved from the initial site of burial at the American cemetery at Zon.
Shortly after his death his parents received a visit from a (supposed) member of the regiment who claimed to have been friends with John. This person told them about what happened the day of John's death. They gave this man a significant sum of money as he was experiencing hardship. It wasn't until 2001, when a Dutch gentleman researching the history of Best contacted us, that we learned the true circumstances of the action that day. The War Office had told the family John died in France, his Roll of Honour entry still gives incorrect details of place of birth.
