Ferdinand (Strunk) Oliver (1914 - 1971)

Born 11 Mar 1914 in Swan Reach, South Australia, Australia

Husband of Margaret Neta (Ramm) Oliver — married 29 Sep 1944 in Hahndorf, South Australia, Australia

Died 15 Jan 1971 at age 56 in Swan Reach, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ed Noack [send private message]

Biography

Birth: Ferdinand (Ferdie/Fred) STRUNK Jnr. was born on 11 March 1914 in Swan Reach, South Australia. Father, Ferdinand STRUNK. Mother, Elizabeth OLIVER (born PHILLIPS). He changed his Family Name to OLIVER in 1945.

Early life: attended the Swan Reach Primary School.

1926 " SCHOOL CONCERT AT SWAN REACH. Swan Reach. December 13. A successful concert was presented by the children attending the Swan Reach school on Saturday. The programme, which was long and varied, was well received by a large audience and the school committee funds will be considerably swelled as a result. At the conclusion of the programme, prizes were distributed as follows: Good conduct medal—Hartley Schulz; regular attendance — August Boehm; neatness—Irene Laney and Rachel Rohrlach; greatest improvement in school work—May Zadow; interest in school work—Ferdinand Strunk; wood- work prize — Maurice Lang; conduct and attendance (juniors)—Jean Juers. Mr. Les Howard was accompanist and an amusing recitation was given by Mr. C. Taylor."

Marriage: 29 September 1944 in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hahndorf, to Neta Margaret RAMM of Sedan, South Australia.

1944. "OLIVER — RAMM.— The marriage of Neta M., second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Ramm, of Sedan, to Cpl. F. Oliver, only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Strunk, of Swan Reach, was solemnised at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hahndorf, on September 29."

Child: Geoffrey Ronald OLIVER, born 28 July 1948, died 15 Aug 2002, age 54. as a result of a truck accident in the Mid-North of South Australia.

Occupation: Barber, Bootmaker, Poultry Farmer, Fisherman, Soldier,

1929 "SWAN REACH NEWS. Swan Reach may claim a barber among the youngest in the State. He is the son of Mr. F. Strunk, and is only 16. His father has started him in Business, and in a few months he has built a satisfied clientele."

World War 2 Service 7 Mar 1940: Involvement Corporal, SX1995, 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion 7 Mar 1940: Enlisted Adelaide, SA 7 Mar 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, SX1995 9 Aug 1945: Discharged 9 Aug 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, SX1995 https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/607112

1940. "Pte. Strunk Gets Big Farewell and Presentations at Swan Reach Public Social. PRIVATE Strunk, Swan Reach, arrived home on final leave on March26; residents arranging a farewell social at short notice. The president and secretary of the Red Cross had the able help of Mr Perce Haines, and there was a splendid attendance. The guest of honour is the only child of Mr and Mrs Strunk, highly respected residents of the town. Cr. Lang presided, and the programme embraced musical items with community singing and dancing. Rev. G. Slade said he had known the guest since childhood when he had won a gold medal for being the most gentlemanly boy at school. They were all proud of his action in joining the forces, and wished him a safe and speedy return. Reference was also made to Mr and Mrs Strunk's sacrifice and fine citizenship. Mr R. I. Dawes also eulogised the soldier and extended good wishes and appreciation. Mr J. Ridge spoke on behalf of sporting bodies, wishing their guest luck; and Miss L. Merten (sec. Red Cross) nicely expressed the sentiments of the ladies, on whose behalf she handed him a parcel. Other parcels were also presented, and Mr R. Lang, on behalf of residents of the town and district asked Pte Strunk to accept a wallent of notes."

1943. "Mrs Strunk, Swan Reach, has been advised that her son, Cpl F. Oliver, was wounded in action in New Guinea on Dec. 28. A letter arrived from him just a few hours before the official notice. He said he had been wounded in the thigh, was in hospital, and was doing well. Cpl. Oliver served in England, then in Egypt, six months in Tobruk, then on to Syria; returned in March last year; then went off to New Guinea. This is the second time he has been wounded."

1944. "Cpl. F. Oliver Mentioned] in Despatches. MR. and Mrs Strunk, of Swan Reach, have been notified that their son, Cpl- F. Oliver, has been mentioned in despatches. Cpl. Oliver was the first to enlist from Swan Reach and left with the first Australian contingent for England, later being transferred to the Middle East,where be saw considerable service. He was one of the Tobruk garrison, and was wounded there. Later, he saw service In Syria, was twice wounded, and then returned to Australia. After 7 days' leave he left for service in New Guinea; was again wounded, got malaria and had a term in hospital. During his convalescence he returned to SA, then went back to NG to re-join his unit. "

1944. "SOLDIER OF WIDE EXPERIENCES. Cpl. Fred Oliver,Swan Reach. Cpl. Fred Oliver, who has recently been home at Swan Reach on leave from Papua has had many interesting experiences since he joined the AIF early in the present war. He was the first to enlist from this district and left for England in May 1940. After training in England and Scotland he saw service in the Middle East first at Gairabub against the Italians. He was in the Tobruk push in April '41. Here he was wounded in the hand while a gunner in a Bren Gun carrier. He spent some time at Kantara on the Suez Canal convalescing and saw something of Palestine. He then returned to Tobrak in the ill-fated HMAS "Waterhen" and later was transferred to Palestine at Gaza, and then up through the Jordan Valley to Syria; ultimately finishing at Aleppo and thence back to Palestine. He was among the men who were drafted to defend the forces in Malaya, but they were all directed to Australia. After further training in Australia in Queensland, he took part in the fighting in Milne Bay. At Buna he was severely wounded in the thigh and was flown by plane to Pt. Moresby and later to Queensland. He then returned to South Australia. After a long spell he was again transferred to Papua. For his heroic work at Buna he was mentioned in despatches. Cpl. Oliver is now attached to a L.O.B. Group at Southern Papua. He thinks the Japs are good fighters while led by capable officers, but as soon as an officer is killed or incapacitated they are pretty hopeless. Cpl. Oliver is glad to be back at home and to enjoy the quiet of the country life on the good old River Murray."

1945. "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Oliver have taken up their residence in Swan Reach. Mr. Oliver has been discharged from the Army after five and a half years of service in the Middle East and New Guinea. He was twice wounded."

Death: on 15 January 1971, age 56 years, in Swan Reach, South Australia. (Personal comment from Ed Noack: Following a long and sad struggle with the debilitating psychological and physical impacts of his traumatic war injuries and experiences, Fred took his own life close to his beloved River Murray. I knew the family very well, being neighbours during my childhood and school days in Swan Reacha and mate of his son, Geoff Oliver).

Place of burial: Swan Reach Cemetery, Swan Reach, South Australia. Australia.

Sources

Genealogy SA 'All Other Records' Database, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/607112

Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 - 1942) Fri 17 Dec 1926 Page 9, SCHOOL CONCERT AT SWAN REACH. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109355094

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954) Thu 12 Sep 1929 Page 3 SWAN REACH NEWS. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165683432

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954) Thu 4 Apr 1940 Page 3. Pte. Strunk Gets Big Farewell and Presentations at Swan Reach Public Social. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165885081

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954) Thu 21 Jan 1943 Page 3 PERSONAL NOTES. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166386863.

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954) Thu 20 Jan 1944 , Page 1. Cpl. F. Oliver Mentioned in Despatches. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166388946

Murray Pioneer (Renmark, SA : 1942 - 1950) Thu 1 Jun 1944, Page 3 SOLDIER OF WIDE EXPERIENCES https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109407652

Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thu 5 Oct 1944 Page 14, Family Notices https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92807463

Murray Pioneer (Renmark, SA : 1942 - 1950) Thu 1 Nov 1945 Page 9 SWAN REACH. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109414298.

CPL Ferdinand Oliver. BIRTH, 11 Mar 1914, Swan Reach, Mid Murray Council, South Australia, Australia. DEATH, 15 Jan 1971 (aged 56), South Australia, Australia. BURIAL, Swan Reach Cemetery, Swan Reach, Mid Murray Council, South Australia, Australia. MEMORIAL ID 201648009 · View Source.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201648009/ferdinand-oliver: accessed 06 January 2024), memorial page for CPL Ferdinand Oliver (11 Mar 1914–15 Jan 1971), Find a Grave Memorial ID 201648009, citing Swan Reach Cemetery, Swan Reach, Mid Murray Council, South Australia, Australia; Maintained by Faithe Jones (contributor 50048377).

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201648009/ferdinand-oliver