Corporal Robert Oliver

Corporal Robert Oliver, 11th ( Service ) Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ). He was killed in action in Bulgaria during the Salonica Campaign on 19th September 1918, aged 31. He had been born in Melrose and was the only son of Robert and Marion Oliver of Stow and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece. He had originally enlisted in the 10th Battalion but at some point was transferred to the 11th Battalion which went to Salonika in November 1915. He fell in the Second Battle of Doiran where his Battalion together with the 12th Argylls and the 8th Royal Scots Fusiliers attacked Bulgarian positions near Lake Doiran. Initially they were successful but strong resistance and a shortage of ammunition forced a withdrawal to the original start line. All three Battalions suffered 50% casualties. The Battalion was in the 77th Brigade of the 26th Division along with 10th Black Watch, 12th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the 8th Royal Scots Fusiliers. The photos show Scottish troops at Salonika.