Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Marritt, a life insurance agent, born on the 3rd October 1858 in Bromley, Kent and baptised on the 2nd January 1859 in the Church of SS. Peter & Paul, Bromley (son of James Marritt and Sarah Farmer) and his wife Ann Jane Marritt (nee Aspell, married on the 25th September 1883 in the Church of SS. Philip & James, Ratby, Leicestershire), born on the 27th February 1861 in Groby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 10th August 1862 in the Church of SS. Philip & James, Groby (daughter of George Aspell and Sarah Crowson). Oliver John, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1888 in Leicester and baptised on the 27th January 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Frederick William, a schoolboy, born on the 17th March 1884 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and baptised on the 1st June 1884 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and Edith Alice, a schoolgirl, born on the 29th January 1886 in Leicester and baptised on the 27th January 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby, in April 1891 the family home was at Lutterworth Road, Blaby. In March 1901 Oliver was employed as a hosiery machinist and was residing in the family home near the Station, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, together with his father, a butcher, his mother and siblings, Frederick, a wool trade winder, Edith, a hosiery trade machinist, Sarah Annie, born on the 1st December 1894 and baptised on the 27th January 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby and James Aspell, born on the 17th December 1896 and baptised on the 27th June 1897 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby, the latter two siblings were both born in Blaby and Victor Henry, born on the 29th March 1900 in Leire, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Oliver was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Broughton Astley, together with his father, a butcher and green grocer, his mother who was assisting in the business and his siblings, Sarah, a hosiery trade mender, James, a hosiery factory office boy and Victor, a schoolboy. On the 28th March 1914, Oliver married Vera Sarah Barnacle in All Saint’s Church, Sapcote, Leicestershire, Vera was born on the 11th February 1892 in Sapcote and was the daughter of John and Hannah Barnacle. Oliver and Vera lived at Mill Lane, Broughton Astley. After Oliver’s death Vera moved to Seive Hollow, Coanwood by Carlisle, Northumberland.
Oliver’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Leicester into the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), and was allotted the service number 67117, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training. It is unknown to which Battalion he was posted after completing his training or on what date he first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was admitted to the Old Hastings Hospital in Eastbourne suffering from wounds received in action, where he subsequently died on the 30th September 1917. His body was conveyed to his home at Broughton Astley, where his funeral service took place with Full Military Honours on the 4th October 1917. After being wounded, he was transferred to the 17th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 21st March 1918, Oliver’s widow Vera was awarded a weekly Army Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence to commence on the 8th April 1918.