Duncan Cenotaph
As part of our project to document the names on the Duncan Cenotaph in Charles Hoey Park, here is a page about Private Oliver Colliard, who died 19 August 1917, aged 21, while serving with the 29th Battalion, C.E.F.. He is buried in Fosse No. 10, Communal Cemetery Extension, Sans-En-Goheele, Pas de Calais, France.
Here is the local Cowichan Leader newspaper report of the death of Private Oliver Colliard:
We regret to announce that Pte. Oliver Colliard, second son of Mr. and Mrs. A Colliard, Duncan, has laid down his life in France. He was reported dangerously wounded on August 18th, and on the following day he died at the field dressing station from gunshot wounds in the back. The news reached his parents last Sunday and on Monday morning nearly all the members of the church assembled at St. Edward’s, Duncan, when the Rev. Father Francis sang Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul. Oliver was born in Manitoba about 21 years ago. With his elder brother he worked at land clearing in this district. He joined a pioneer battalion in June, 1915, with his younger brother Maurice, and sailed in the next month for England. He had been in France for over a year, had worked on railway construction and, for some time prior to his death, had actually been in the trenches. He was a member of St. Edward’s club and captain of its baseball and basketball teams, and at one time a Cowichan Valley cadet. Maurice was in France for a short time after he had recovered from a serious illness and is now attached to the Pay and Records office. He was sent back from France, being underage.”
(Source: Cowichan Leader, 30 August 1917, from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives files)
Here are links to additional information about Oliver Colliard:
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