RQMS Archibald John Oliver Royal Fusiliers 25th Battalion

[K8T]

Hi,
I am researching the above named WW1 soldier, born in 1882 in Edmonton and died in Kenya on 23rd February 1916.  He is buried in Kajiado Cemetery, Kenya.

My query is, does anyone know what the Royal Fusiliers would have been doing there at this time and in what circumstances he might have died?  Would there have been a battle or skirmish in that area at that time?  I thought it unusual.

His older brother, William, died the same year serving with the Royal Engineers in France.

Thanks
K8T

[ShaunJ]

Died of pneumonia

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60506/images/42511_6117463_0042-00030

[ShaunJ]

As you say he was with 25th Royal Fusiliers: see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_campaign_(World_War_I)

[tonepad]

25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_(Frontiersmen)_Battalion,_Royal_Fusiliers


Tony

[ShaunJ]

Was his mother a Mrs Coulson? There is a mention in the Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph of 25 March 1916 (page 5, column 6) of her son Archibald Oliver who had died of dysentery in East Africa.

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0003544%2f19160325%2f105

[K8T]

Thanks ShaunJ.  I misread the word as Memorial.  Looking closer I can see it is Pneumonia.  I'm unable to see the FindMyPast as I do not subscribe but you are right, his mother was Mrs Coulson as he remarried.  You say it states dysentery?  Maybe he died of both.  Ws there a photo with it?  Maybe I can access it via a different route.

Thank you tonepad and ShaunJ for the link to the East African Campaign and the 25th.  It is much appreciated

[ShaunJ]

The newspaper mention is just a very short item about a memorial service (for parishioners who had died in the war) at Longfield Church, suggested by relatives of Archibald Oliver. There is no photo.

[K8T]

Many thanks ShaunJ, that's great.