Oliver James Belson was born in Hemel Hempstead in 1898 the oldest child of Oliver James Belson snr. and Ada Howard. Oliver and Ada had five children together who were Oliver James, Ada, Alfred, Elsie and Daisy. Ada jnr. died in 1902 when aged just two. Oliver snr. was a “Baker” and the family lived in the Two Waters area of Boxmoor in 1901 and by the time of the 1911 Census they had moved to “The Parade” in nearby Apsley. Oliver’s Grandfather James was a “Marine Store Dealer” supplying goods to the many “Bargees” plying their trade on the Grand Junction (Union) Canal which ran through Apsley and Boxmoor. It is not known where Oliver went to school but when he had finished his education he joined his Grandfather in the business and he is recorded as a “Marine Store Dealer’s Assistant” on his attestation papers when he enlisted in Bedford on the 20th February 1917. Oliver was slightly built and weighed only eight stones, despite being slightly taller than the average man at “5 feet 6 inches”, and his medical records on enlistment recorded that his chest measurements were “2 inches” under permitted size. This was not enough however, to result in rejection and he was categorised “A” and passed fit for military service.

He was posted to the 26th and then the 28th Training Reserve Battalions for basic training and on the 7th March he was transferred to the 245th Infantry Battalion. Oliver completed his training just over seven months later and was then sent overseas on the 24th September 1917 to a BEF Base Depot. He was posted to the 10th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment six days later.

He saw significant action in 1917 and fought through the whole of the Third Battle of Ypres which included actions at Pilckem Ridge, Menin Road Ridge, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle and finally at the horrendous and costly First Battle of Passchendaele on the 12th October. Oliver came through unscathed despite significant casualties suffered by both sides and 13,000 Allied casualties at Passchendaele alone. The 10th Battalion was disbanded in February 1918 and Oliver and his comrades transferred to the 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on the 6th February 1918 and assigned to “A” Company. On the 6th May 1918 he was injured as a result of an accident whilst on a working party. He was reported to have accidentally slipped off the duckboards owing to the “intense darkness” and cut his hand.

He was hospitalised for treatment and when he had recovered sufficiently he returned to his battalion in early June. Two months later in late August and early September he fought in the successful Second Battle of Arras in the actions at the Scarpe and the breakthrough at the German Drocourt-Queant Line. He was awarded leave in mid-September and returned to Hemel to see his family and friends before returning to France on the 24th of the month. Just three days after returning Percy fought in the Battle of the Canal du Nord which was part of what became known as the “Hundred Days Offensive” which led directly to the Allied victory and Armistice in November 1918.

At 5.20 a.m. on the morning of the 27th September, the Allied forces attacked under cover of total darkness, taking the Germans by complete surprise. By mid-morning all the defenders had retreated or been captured, and the Allies pushed home the advantage and advanced towards Cambrai. The action continued for the next three days concluding on the 1st October when the Battalion returned to billets.

Oliver was posted “Missing” and his death, as the battle concluded, was subsequently confirmed. He was Killed in Action on Tuesday, 1st October 1918.

He is Remembered with Honour in Sucrerie Cemetery, Epinoy, Pas de Calais, France, where he is interred in Grave D. 20. The inscription on his headstone, requested by his mother Ada, reads: “FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”.

Oliver was only 20 years old when he died.

He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.