Lest we forget: Norbert Charles Oliver (1904-1941)

When you go to the Anzac Service at the Stanwell Tops Memorial Park on Anzac Day there are several crosses scattered around with some names unrecognisable and few you can read. The name that sticked up was Norbert Oliver died 1941 HMAS Parramatta. Who was this serviceman and why was his memorial in this small park?

Norbert Charles Oliver was born on 21 October 1904 at Mullumbimby, NSW, son of Charles Goodwin and Honorah Oliver and husband of Rosa Margarette of Otford NSW. Norbert and Rosa lived on the Cnr Domville & Rawson Rds, Otford with their family.

Norbert had a long naval career signing up at the age of 21 on the 10 July 1925 for 12 years. During his time he served as a Stoker on the Melbourne, Success, Penguin, Australia, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne. He finished his service in 1937 and reenlisted on 16 October 1939 for another five years, serving on Penguin and then Leading Stoker, RAN 16729, on the ill-fated HMAS Parramatta.

Norbert was unlucky to have been killed in action while onboard the Parramatta whilst operating in the Red Sea and Mediterranean during WW2. On 27 November 1941 the Parramatta was torpedoed by a German submarine (U-559) and the Parramatta sunk with 138 personnel out of 162 onboard.

The HMAS Parramatta was the second ship (Parramatta) built and took out Battle Honours ‘Libya 1941’ and inherited another lot of honours. Parramatta (U44) was a Grimsby class sloop built in the late 1930s. There were 4 ships named Parramatta built for the Royal Australia Navy.

This is another story that has been added to the WW2 story archives of the society. If you have a story of a Helensburgh district service personnel please add it to our archives.

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