Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Essex, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1850 in Narborough, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Essex (nee Moore, married in the 2nd quarter of 1877 in the Leicester district), born 1850 in Syston, Leicestershire. Oliver was born in the 4th quarter of 1879 in Leicester, his siblings were, Mary Jane, a shoe trade worker, born 1873 in Syston, John William, a schoolboy, born 1878, Walter, a schoolboy, born 1881, Charlie, born 1883, Arthur, born 1885, Lily, born 1890, Harry, born 1889 and George, born 1891, the latter seven siblings were all born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Mornington Street, Belgrave, Leicester. In March 1901 Oliver was absent from the family home at 39, Mornington Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Charles, a shoe trade finisher, Arthur, a boot trade warehouse worker, Lily a cigar maker, Harry and George, Oliver was serving as a Private with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was stationed in the East Indies. In April 1911 Oliver was employed as a rubber trade pressman and was residing in the family home at 54, Syston Street, Leicester, together with his wife, Edith Lily Essex (nee Hill, married on the 27th December 1909 in the Leicester Register Office), a shoe trade fitter and machinist, born 1884 in Leicester and their son George Henry, born on the 13th April 1910 in Leicester. After the 1911 Census, two further children were born, Sidney, born 6th February 1913 in Leicester and William, born on the 11th September 1915 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, William died on the 9th November 1915, the family home was now at 14, Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire. Oliver attested into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 6th May 1897 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester and his age as 18 years and 6 months. He gave his present home address as 39, Mornington Street, Humberstone Road, Leicester in the parish of St. Barnabas, and his trade or calling as labourer, his present employer being Messrs. Carr Brothers of Evington, Leicester. He confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was fair and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Militia service on the 6th May 1897 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) as a Private, service number 6212 on the 6/5/1897. Commenced drill training on the 6/5/1897. Enlisted into the Regular Army, Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 16/7/1897. Oliver attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 16th July 1897 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester and his age as 18 years and 9 months, his trade or calling as labourer and confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was a serving member of the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia). He expressed a preference to serve in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He gave his father Charles and mother Eliza, both of 39, Mornington Street, Leicester, his brothers John, 1st Royal Scots, Walter, Charles, Arthur, Harry and George, sisters Mary and Lily as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 116 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was fair and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 16th July 1897 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Chatham, Kent as a Private, service number 5471 on the 19/7/1897. Granted messing allowance on the 1/4/1898. Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge on the 2/7/00. Granted 2nd Good Conduct Badge on the 16/7/03. Transferred to “A” Army Reserve on the 10/1/05. Transferred to “B” Army Reserve on the 11/1/06. Discharged at the termination of his first period of engagement on the 15/7/09. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 16/7/1897 – 27/12/1898, 1 year 165 days. East Indies, 28/12/1898 – 6/1/05, 6 years 10 days. Home Service, 7/1/05 – 15/7/09, 4 years 190 days. Total service, 12 years. Attested under Section D as a Private with the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 12/1/10. Discharged on termination of Section D engagement on the 11/1/14. Oliver attested into the Army Reserve as a Special Reservist to serve an engagement of 1 year on the 24th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and his age as 34 years 100 days, his trade or calling as porter. He confirmed that he was married, and that he had served 16 years with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He gave his wife Lily, and sons, George and Sidney all of 14 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and his eyes were grey. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 24th August 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11980 on the 24/8/14. Commenced recruit training on the 24/8/14. Joined the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 29/8/14. Transferred to the Depot on the 21/2/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 12/6/15. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 3/10/15. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 7/10/15. Admitted to hospital suffering from cellulitis of the feet on the 2/11/15. Transferred by Hospital Ship St. George, to the 2nd General Hospital, London, suffering from trench foot, on the 8/11/15. Posted on the 9/11/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 31/12/15. Discharged at Patrington Camp as no longer physically fit for further war service on the 31/12/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 24/8/14 – 3/10/15 1 year 41 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 4/10/15 – 8/11/15, 36 days. Home Service, 9/11/15 – 19/4/16, 163 days. Total service, 1 year 240 days. Oliver was awarded a Silver War Badge No. 23292.