Name
Leonard Oakley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
235084
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WESTHOF FARM CEMETERY
II. E. 4.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials, Wing Cross, Wing, Bucks.
Pre War
Leonard Oakley was born in Long Marston, Tring in 1889 to John Oakley, straw plait dealer, and Mary Ann (nee Luck).
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Albert J (born 1872) , Ernest A (born 1874), Walter T (born 1876), Christopher (born 1878), and Ellen E (born 1881) were living at Cottage in Tring.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Albert J (carpenter), Ernest A (butcher’s assistant), Walter T, Christopher, Ellen (Ella), Maud M (born 1883) and Leonard were living at Long Marston, Berkhamsted.
On the 1901 Census the Family of parents, Albert (carpenter), Walter (tailor), Christopher (butcher), Ellen, Maud (dressmaker), Leonard were living at New Road, Wing, Bucks.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Walter, Christopher, Maud, Leonard were living at New Road , Wing, Bucks.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Leonard. Leonard enlisted in Oxfordshire Yeomanry (Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars) as a Territorial Private 3130 in 1914/15. At some time he transferred to 5th (Service) Battalion of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry and became Serial 235084 when the Territorial force was renumbered in 1917. 5th Battalion were part of 42 Brigade, 14 (Light) Division and had been in France since May 1915.
There is no record of Leonard’s attachment to this Battalion but may have happened in 1916. In 1917 the Division took part in the Retreat of the Germans to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Campaign (1st & 3rd Battles of the Scarpe) in the Spring of 1917 before being transferred to the Ypres Sector to take part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) namely the Battles of Langemarck (16-18 Aug), Menin Road (20-25 Sep).
Leonard was reported killed in action on 27 Sep 1917 possibly due the attrition of troops due to shelling of the front line.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £2 16s 3d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
