PREVIOUS SERVICE – 2 Years plus with 25th Light Horse Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant
21/10/1914 – Completed Application for Commission Perth WA
30/11/1914- Completed Medical Examination Perth
05/12/1914- Recommendation for Appointment by District Commandant and appointed as 2nd Lieutenant with 10th Light Horse Regiment
11/01/1915- Promoted to Lieutenant WA
17/02/1915- Embarked Fremantle WA aboard “Surada” bound for Egypt
13/03/1915- Disembarked Alexandria Egypt to Overseas Training Base
16/05/1915- Embarked Alexandria with Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces for Gallipoli Peninsular
23/05/1915- Wounded in Action Anzac Gallipoli ( Gunshot wound to Shoulder)
31/05/1915- Evacuated/Admitted 2nd General Hospital Ghezireh Egypt ex Hospital Ship Gallipoli
13/07/1915- Rejoined Unit in the field Gallipoli ex Wounded
31/07/1915- Wounded in Action Anzac Gallipoli ( Multiple severe wounds to hands & body
12/08/1915- Evacuated/Admitted to Hospital Malta ex Hospital Ship ex New Zealand Field Ambulance
26/09/1915- Discharged from Hospital & embarked for Alexandria ex Malta
25/10/1915- Rejoined 10LHR in the field Gallip0li
28/10/1915- Promoted Lieutenant in the field Gallipoli
26/12/1915- Disembarked Alexandria ex Gallipoli
18/01/1916- Promoted Captain Heliopolis Egypt
21/02/1916- Admitted 1st Australian General Hospital Heliopolis (Influenza)
26/02/1916- Discharged from Hospital to 10LHR in the field Serapeum Egypt
09/05/1916- Promoted Major in the field Railhead Serapeum
17/08/1916- Transferred to Base Details Balley Bunion Hod-el-Jafir
05/09/1916- Admitted 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital Bie-el-Abd Canal Zone (Tonsilitis)
29/09/1916- Transferred/Admitted 14th Australian General Hospital Abbassia Egypt ex Hospital Train
24/10/1916- Discharged to 1oLHR in the field Egypt ex Sickness
19/12/1916- Attached 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment Moascar Egypt
13/02/1917- Rejoined 10LHR Masaid Egypt
19/01/1918- Detached to Imperial School of Instruction Zeitoun Egypt
25/02/1918- Completed Topographical Course Zeitoun
19/06/1918- Assumed Command 10LHR in the field during the Second Battle of Gaza
11/08/1918- Granted Temporary Rank Lieutenant Colonel to Command 10LHR until 27/09/1918 following the death of Colonel TODD
01/10/1918- Accepted Enemy Surrender at Damascus from Emir SAID,
05/11/1918- Awarded Companion of Distinguished Service Order for Acts of Gallantry and Devotion to Duty in the field
24/01/1919- Promoted Lieutenant Colonel in the field Egypt
March 1919- Insurrection in Egypt – Sent out in Command of a mixed force of Australians & quickly quelled the uprising in that area,
14/03/1919- Granted Leave in Egypt ex Zagazig
05/04/1919- Rejoined 10LHR in the field Egypt ex Leave
27/06/1919- Granted Approval for Non-Military Employment in the United Kingdom
14/07/1919- Embarked Port Said Egypt bound for England
23/07/1919- Reported at AIF Headquarters London for Non-Military Employment
19/09/1919- Embarked England bound for USA at own expense to attend a Course at the DEntal School of University of Pennsylvania.
05/04/1920- Discharged from Service ( Appointment Terminated).
SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED
1914/1915 Star – No.2518
British War Medal – No. 1904
Victory Medal – No. 1901
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
Date of Recommendation – 9 October 1918:-
“This officer was in charge of his Regiment on the 20th September 1918 when the Brigade was ordered to occupy JENIN as quickly as possible. The 10th ALH Regiment formed the advance guard. It left LEJJUN at 16.30 and by 17.40 had cut the roads leading from JENIN to North and North East thus covering a distance of 11 miles in 70 minutes. Parties of the advance guard swept well to the North and North East thus took prisoner fugitives who were already several miles from the Town. During the ensuing night this Regiment covered the NABLUS Road from the South and captured further prisoners. Total prisoners taken at JENIN was 8107 and 5 Guns. To Major OLDEN much credit is due for the prompt manner in which he surrounded the Town, swept aside minor opposition and got back enemy troops who had already left the place. On the 27th September Major OLDEN was in charge of the support to the advance guard when the JORDAN was forced North of the Sea of Galilee and helped considerably in the forcing of the passage. He was with the advance guard at the successful engagements at SASA on the 29th September, at DUMA on 1st October and at KHAN KUSSEIR on the 1st October and did fine work in pushing on and capturing three places”.
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 17 June 1919
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 1010, Position 29
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Citation: 29 January 1920
Location of Citation in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 88, Position 9
Date of London Gazette: 8 March 1919
Location in London Gazette: Page 3227, Position 17
Date of London Citation: 40October 1919
Location of Citation in London Gazette: Page 12233, Position9.
MENTION IN DESPATCHES (MID)
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 2 September 1920
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 1145, Position 12
Date of London Gazette: 11 June 1920
Location in London Gazette: Page 6452, Position 15.