Oliver, John Widdicombe
Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander John Widdicombe Oliver, R.N., killed in action in H.M.S. Bonaventure was 33 years of age. The elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver of “The Goodwyns”, Old Bosham, he was educated at Felsted and obtained a scholarship to Guy’s Hospital, from which he qualified in 1931. He was resident surgeon at Ashford Gen. Hospital, Kent, and entered the Royal Navy in 1931. After being at the R.N. Hospital, Hasler for six months, he served two and a half years on the China Station on H.M.S. Falcon, Yangtse Flotilla. On returning to England he was appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital, Great Yarmouth. In July 1937 he was promoted to Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander, and joined H.M.S. Bonaventure as Senior Medical Officer in April, 1940. He leaves a widow. The Times 23 April 1941
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Oliver |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | John Widdicombe |
| Date of birth | 29 Sept.1907 |
| Place of birth | Uxbridge Registration District |
| Family details | Son of William Henry and Muriel D. E. Oliver; husband of Isobel Margaret Oliver, of Hest Bank, Lancashire. |
| Previous education | Felsted School |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1924-1931 |
| Dept / course | M.B., B.S. Full course |
| Qualifications | M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P, 1931 |
| Military unit | Royal Navy, H.M.S. Bonaventure |
| War / conflict | World War Two (1939-1945) |
| Date of death | 31 March 1941 |
| Age at death | 33 |
| Rank at death | Lieut-Commander Surgeon |
| Cause of death | Lost at sea |
| Commemoration(s) | Guys Memorial; Plymouth Naval Memorial Roll of the Fallen, University of London O.T.C. |
| Sources | University of London O.T.C. |