Name
Francis William Oakley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/12/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15306
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Ardeley Village Memorial, St Lawrence Church Memorial, Ardeley, Standon War Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon, Puckeridge Village Memorial, Not on the Little Hadham memorials
Biography
Francis Oakley was a Private, No. 15306 in the 8th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was killed in action 20th December 1915. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium on Panels 31 – 33. We have only very sketchy details about Francis Oakley. We know that he had a nickname ‘Punch’, which was a name used in correspondence about him by his friend Clarry Clements (see his page). His entry in ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’ only tells us he was born in Standon, but resided in Little Hadham and that he enlisted at Hertford. This was probably at the same time as the Clements brothers and other friends who were also in the 8th Battalion such as Eric Whitaker (mentioned in the article below) and Horace Hawken.
The following article from the Herts & Essex Observer of 27th January 1917 says: "Standon Soldier Killed in Action – Pte Francis Oakley Before the war Pte. Francis Oakley worked as a gardener for some ladies at Westland Green, Standon, and won their esteem by the faithful way he discharged his duties. At the beginning of the war, he and several other Standon lads enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment, and in August of the following year went to the front. Later he was in the trenches and was unfortunately blown to pieces by a shell from the enemy. Some of his Standon comrades narrowly escaped, and one, Eric Arthur Whitaker, whose photograph appeared recently on our columns, was badly wounded by the same shell and had to have his right leg amputated and died a few days afterwards. Pte. Francis Oakley had the true spirit of a soldier; he was reliable, trustworthy, and in the time of imminent danger perfectly sang froid. Two other of the lads of the same group, Clarence Clements and Horace Hawken, have, we regret to say, been reported missing for some months. All, like Francis Oakley, have done their duty and fought valiantly and heroically for their country. They were inspired, as are all British soldiers, by then though that England must live, and that liberty, justice and righteousness can only again have sway in the world by the poet’s words (slightly varied) being realised: Lay the Hun barbarians low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberties in every blow! Let us do or die."
In another article, this time from the Royston Crow – the obituary of Eric Arthur Whitaker, who died just five days after Oakley (on Christmas Day 1915), there is a mention of Francis which seems to contradict the fact that he was born in Standon. It says: "Death of Pte Eric Arthur Whitaker of Standon Private Eric Arthur Whitaker, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Whitaker, of the Bell Inn, Standon, enlisted in the 8th Beds. Regt. In September, 1914, at the commencement of the war. He had previously been a clerk in the service of the G.E.R. Company at Braughing and Hadham stations. He was reliable, conscientious, and performed his duties most efficiently, and these were his traits of character as a soldier. He had been in France four months. On the 19th ult. he was in the trenches when the enemy preceded a heavy bombardment by a gas attack. Early next morning he was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh. Some of his comrades were killed by the explosion, including Pte. Francis Oakley, who before the war lived for a time at Standon. Pte Whitaker, who was only 20 years of age, was removed to a hospital at the base, and the next day, Dec. 21st, sent an army card to his mother, stating he was wounded. Though mortally wounded his thoughts were of home, and on the 23rd another letter was sent from the hospital, in which he said “I am feeling a shade better.” With the letter was a Christmas card of kindly wishes showing his deep affection for home, and with true soldier’s courage disregarding his own sufferings. Unfortunately his leg had to be amputated, and at 6 p.m. on Christmas Day he collapsed, and gradually sank and died at 8.25. A telegram announcing his death was received from the War Office on the 28th ult. The Sister of the hospital writing the day after his death to his sorrowing parents said, “How we wished we could have sent your boy back again, we were very grieved and sad last night.” The parents have received from Lord Kitchener a message from the King assuring them of the true sympathy of His Majesty and Queen in their sorrow. Mr & Mrs Whitaker have two other sons in the Army, Edward in the 6th Beds, now in France, and Harry, who has just returned from the Front to take up the role of Instructor in the Royal Engineers. On Sunday at the Parish Church at the close of the morning service the Dead March in Saul was played on the organ while the congregation remained standing, in memory of the two Standon soldiers, Eric Arthur Whitaker and Francis Oakley, who have nobly sacrificed their lives for their country. It must be some consolation and pride to the sorrowing relatives to know that their brave lads have died for the great cause of righteousness and truth, which must ultimately triumph and bring about an era of peace."
The 8th Battalion The Bedfordshires war diary comments for 20th December 1915 merely read. ‘Intense shelling, support trenches demolished & relieved in the evening by 2/Buffs’. The day before, they had experienced the first German gas attack.
Francis Oakley was a Private, No. 15306 in the 8th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was killed in action 20th December 1915.
He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium on Panels 31 – 33.
We have only very sketchy details about Francis Oakley. We know that he had a nickname ‘Punch’, which was a name used in correspondence about him by his friend Clarry Clements (see his page).
His entry in ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’ only tells us he was born in Standon, but resided in Little Hadham and that he enlisted at Hertford. This was probably at the same time as the Clements brothers and other friends who were also in the 8th Battalion such as Eric Whitaker (mentioned in the article below) and Horace Hawken.
The following article from the Herts & Essex Observer of 27th January 1917 says:
"Standon Soldier Killed in Action – Pte Francis Oakley
Before the war Pte. Francis Oakley worked as a gardener for some ladies at Westland Green, Standon, and won their esteem by the faithful way he discharged his duties. At the beginning of the war, he and several other Standon lads enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment, and in August of the following year went to the front. Later he was in the trenches and was unfortunately blown to pieces by a shell from the enemy. Some of his Standon comrades narrowly escaped, and one, Eric Arthur Whitaker, whose photograph appeared recently on our columns, was badly wounded by the same shell and had to have his right leg amputated and died a few days afterwards.
Pte. Francis Oakley had the true spirit of a soldier; he was reliable, trustworthy, and in the time of imminent danger perfectly sang froid. Two other of the lads of the same group, Clarence Clements and Horace Hawken, have, we regret to say, been reported missing for some months. All, like Francis Oakley, have done their duty and fought valiantly and heroically for their country. They were inspired, as are all British soldiers, by then though that England must live, and that liberty, justice and righteousness can only again have sway in the world by the poet’s words (slightly varied) being realised:
Lay the Hun barbarians low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberties in every blow!
Let us do or die."
In another article, this time from the Royston Crow – the obituary of Eric Arthur Whitaker, who died just five days after Oakley (on Christmas Day 1915), there is a mention of Francis which seems to contradict the fact that he was born in Standon. It says:
"Death of Pte Eric Arthur Whitaker of Standon
Private Eric Arthur Whitaker, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Whitaker, of the Bell Inn, Standon, enlisted in the 8th Beds. Regt. In September, 1914, at the commencement of the war. He had previously been a clerk in the service of the G.E.R. Company at Braughing and Hadham stations. He was reliable, conscientious, and performed his duties most efficiently, and these were his traits of character as a soldier. He had been in France four months. On the 19th ult. he was in the trenches when the enemy preceded a heavy bombardment by a gas attack. Early next morning he was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh. Some of his comrades were killed by the explosion, including Pte. Francis Oakley, who before the war lived for a time at Standon. Pte Whitaker, who was only 20 years of age, was removed to a hospital at the base, and the next day, Dec. 21st, sent an army card to his mother, stating he was wounded. Though mortally wounded his thoughts were of home, and on the 23rd another letter was sent from the hospital, in which he said “I am feeling a shade better.” With the letter was a Christmas card of kindly wishes showing his deep affection for home, and with true soldier’s courage disregarding his own sufferings. Unfortunately his leg had to be amputated, and at 6 p.m. on Christmas Day he collapsed, and gradually sank and died at 8.25. A telegram announcing his death was received from the War Office on the 28th ult. The Sister of the hospital writing the day after his death to his sorrowing parents said, “How we wished we could have sent your boy back again, we were very grieved and sad last night.” The parents have received from Lord Kitchener a message from the King assuring them of the true sympathy of His Majesty and Queen in their sorrow. Mr & Mrs Whitaker have two other sons in the Army, Edward in the 6th Beds, now in France, and Harry, who has just returned from the Front to take up the role of Instructor in the Royal Engineers. On Sunday at the Parish Church at the close of the morning service the Dead March in Saul was played on the organ while the congregation remained standing, in memory of the two Standon soldiers, Eric Arthur Whitaker and Francis Oakley, who have nobly sacrificed their lives for their country. It must be some consolation and pride to the sorrowing relatives to know that their brave lads have died for the great cause of righteousness and truth, which must ultimately triumph and bring about an era of peace."
The 8th Battalion The Bedfordshires war diary comments for 20th December 1915 merely read. ‘Intense shelling, support trenches demolished & relieved in the evening by 2/Buffs’.
The day before, they had experienced the first German gas attack.
Acknowledgments
Di Vanderson, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
