Lce. Sgt. Oliver Robert
Bertram Ettie, R.M.L.I.
Service Number PO/8657
(a.k.a "Jumbo")

"Jumbo" was born 4 August 1881in Gosport, Hampshire and on the 15 March 1894 at age 12, like his father before him, he joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry. At this time his parents are shown as residing at 143 Forton Road, Gosport.

Oliver was a bugler aboard H.M.S. Orlando when she was sent to China. He took part in the Boxer Rebellion when he "landed for the defence of Tientsin and took part in the capture of native city" for which he was awarded the China Medal and clasp for the relief of Pekin.

The 1900 China Medal and Clasp:-

King Edward VII presented Jumbo with this medal. Official record showing medal number (6848), how presented, by whom and to whom.

HMS Orlando - [From Gates: Ships of the British Navy]

"This name dates from 1811, its most distinguished bearer being a cruiser launched at Jarrow, 3rd. August, 1886. She took an active part under Captain J.H. Burke in suppressing the Chinese outbreak in 1899. The ship was the first to arrive on the scene when trouble arose, and it was her Naval Brigade which originally undertook the defence of Tientsin. Captain Burke's gallantry, and that of the brigade he commanded during the long and arduous fighting, which resulted in the capture of the city, formed the subject of a special dispatch. At the beginning of the operations the Orlando had a complement of 486 officers and men, of whom 31 were sent to Peking, 112 to Tientsin, 104 accompanied Sir Edward Seymour, 99 took part in the capture of the Taku Forts, and l6 were absent in lighters, etc., in the river, leaving 124 on board. Yet, with all these men absent, the Orlando steamed 900 miles and brought the Chinese Regiment from Wei-Hai-iAfei. Captain Burke died on the passage home. Her casualties were 5 killed and 26 wounded."

Later, while serving on board HMS Niger, Jumbo was accidently shot and killed by another Marine who was practice firing his Martini Henry rifle which was equiped with a Morris tube. He died aged 22 years and is buried near his father in Gosport Cemetery. One of only two brothers to survive birth.