William John (Jack) Oliver was born in Sarnia on October 25, 1923, the son of George Wilfred Oliver and Della (nee Hume) Oliver, of 123 Proctor Street, Sarnia. William had three brothers: Kenneth; Clare; and Lieutenant W. Ray, who was a member of the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Artillery Unit. Growing up in Sarnia, William Oliver attended public school and Sarnia Collegiate. Music was one of his hobbies, and he played in the school orchestra and cadet band while at Sarnia Collegiate, and was a member of the Lambton Garrison Band. William was also a member of the Devine Street United Church and the Young Men’s Club of St. Andrew’s Church. Prior to enlisting, William was employed in the Inspection Laboratory at Sarnia Imperial Refinery.
William Oliver enlisted on November 1, 1941 with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He received his training at Brandon, Hagersville, Belleville, St. Eugene and at Uplands, receiving his pilot’s wings at Uplands, Ottawa on January 22, 1943. Between the time he received his wings and his commission he took an R.A.F. reconnaissance course at Charlottetown. William went overseas on May 9, 1943, as a member of RCAF #6 Operational Training Unit and was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer-Pilot in July 1943.
On October 6, 1943, William Oliver was killed when he accidentally fell from the roof of the St. George Hotel, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. Not long after the accident, parents George and Della Oliver in Sarnia would receive a cable from R.C.A.F. headquarters in Ottawa informing them that their son, Pilot Officer W.J. Oliver had been killed on active service overseas. No details were given as to how he met his death, although it was stated that the funeral would be held at East Fortune near Edinburgh, Scotland.
William Oliver would later be officially listed as, Killed while on leave. (Fell off roof of hotel), overseas (Scotland). Not long after his death, a memorial service was held for William Oliver in Devine Street United Church, officiated by its pastor Rev. Arnold Mathews, assisted by Rev. J.M. Macgillivray of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The memorial service in Sarnia occurred at the same time that William’s funeral was being held in Scotland. His brother Lieutenant W. Ray Oliver, who was overseas with a Royal Canadian Artillery Unit at the time of his brother William’s death, was able to attend the funeral. Nineteen year-old William John is buried at Haddington (St.Martin’s) New Burial Ground, East Lothian, United Kingdom (Scotland), Section E, Grave 18.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, O, 2C, 2D