Oliver, Ernest Alfred

Dundee Courier 27 September 1965
Fighting pirates in the China seas - on the beaches at Dardanelles - in the thick of it at Jutland - instructor on the Mars

The many adventures of Ernie Oliver
The morning of Friday, February 1, 1901, was cold and grey as the funeral cortege bearing the body of Queen Victoria wound slowly from Osborne House to Cowes harbour. Among the silent mourners were the crew of the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert for whom Her Majesty had a special soft spot. One of their number was a youth of 18, Ernest Alfred Oliver. Though born and bred in Portsmouth, Ernie declares himself a "naturalised" Dundonian. He has lived in the city since 1922 when he was appointed an instructor on the Mars training ship. "My first ship was the Royal yacht," recalls Ernie. "The old Queen was a regular visitor especially during Cowes season. "Then she would grant funds for new rigouts for all the crew. "A short, stern figure dressed severely in grey, Her Majesty often had a kindly word for the crew. "I can remember the Queen shaking my hand with the words 'God bless you.' Clearing pirates "Not long after the death of Queen Victoria I was transferred to the battleship Vengeance which was engaged in clearing pirates from the China seas. "The waters round China were riddled with pirate junks which terrorised the villages on the coasts and islands. "Looting, burning, torture and rape were rife. "We could straddle the pirates' bows from a great distance. "If they bolted we'd sink them or set the cruisers after them." After period spent on several ships Ernie joined the battleship Queen. Dardanelles "In 1915 the Queen was ordered to the Dardenelles. "Some of my worst memories haunt me still from those days when so many young men were sacrificed in vail. "As we lowered the boars carrying up to 100 men over the side, not a word was spoken. The lads knew what was waiting "The beaches were a mass of entangled wire right down to the water's edge. "The Turks were entrenched in the cliffs above. "Not even our fire could shift them. "As our boys reached the shore the Turks opened up with murderous machine-gun fire. "Whole boatloads of dead soldiers floated in the surf with no a single survivor reaching the beach. "I was in ship's crews who went ashore to help the wounded. Saved life "A friend of mine won a medal. "Though an ordinary seaman he had the sense to slit the throat of a young Aussie shot in the throat and unable to breathe. "His action saved the lad's life and my mate carried him to safety under fire. "One of our ships rolled right over after being struck by shell fire. "An explosion in the magazine ripped the guts right out of her, and over she went. "We took to the small boats immediately and managed to pick up about 200 survivors, but over 300 were lost. "I was ordered the join the cruiser Galatea just in time to be used as bait before the Battle of Jutland!" he smiled ruefully. "When Admiral Beattie's battle cruisers came into contact with the enemy, we did not turn but headed right into them. "Only brilliant manoeuvering saved the Galatea time and again. "We zigzagged as the shells fell round us."

After 20-odd years' active service in the Royal Navy, Ernie came to Dundee to act as instructor on the Mars training ship. "you know looking back on the Mars many people say it was tough but fair and made men of the boys who were sent there. "But to be honest it could be more than tough - sometimes it was brutal. "I remember once I almost got the sack because I didn't force the boys to walk about 20 miles from Newport to Elie. "We had gone out to clean up a rat-infested granery in Elie, and by the end of the day some of the youngsters were really exhausted. "Faced with the 20-mile walk back to Newport, I decided to hire a lorry and drove them back. "I was warned that I'd be sacked on the next such occasion. I should have made them walk - they said. "Don't think I'm against discipline for youngsters. Indeed, I believe the birch should be brought back for some of those gangs of goons who cause so much trouble. "Fines are no good when you consider some of the wages youngsters earn nowadays."  At Caldrum's when the Mars left the tay for the breakers' yard at Inverkeithing in 1929, Ernie decided his navy days were over. Hi next job was chief porter at Caldrum Jute Works - a post he held for nearly quarter of a century. "During 25 years at Caldrum's I never once took a Christmas or New Year off. I felt I might be needed in an emergency." Ernie's war years have left their mark and although remarkably alert for his age he is to be admitted to the Lady Erskine Hospital in Glasgow. His home is at 87 Craigie Avenue, where he lives with his wife.