Name
Oliver Thake
4/09/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/09/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Seaman
SS/3381
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Hibiscus"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MUCH HADHAM (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
There is an inscription on the family Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross, Not on the Green Tye memorials, Not on the Widford memorials
Pre War
Oliver Thake was born on 4 September 1891, in Widford, Herts, son of Charles and Ellen (nee Wood) Thake, one of eight children. Baptised on 4 October 1891, in Widford, Herts.
1901 Census records Oliver aged 9, living with his parents, and five siblings in, Windmill Cottages, Much Hadham, Herts.
Oliver enlisted in the Royal Navy on 15 August 1910, at Chatham, aged 18, he was issued the service number SS/3381 (CH) he first served on HMS Pembroke I, a shore-based training establishment, and later went to sea. He was employed as a Stockman at the time he enlisted.
1911 Census records Oliver aged 19, single, serving in the Royal Navy, with the rank of Ordinary Seaman, aboard HMS Irresistible a Battleship.
He married Annie Tinsley and they lived in Green Tye, Much Hadham and had two daughters Marjorie and Beatrice.
Wartime Service
He served on the King Edward VII.
During the early phase of World War I, the 3rd Battle Squadron was attached to the Grand Fleet and served on the Northern Patrol. In January 1916 she struck a mine while in transit to a scheduled refit at Belfast and sank. All but one of her crew were evacuated. In May 1916 he took part in the Jutland Bank Battle, serving on HMS Hibiscus, and had been doing heroic work of a special and hazardous nature.
On the 8th he returned home for 14 days leave. A few days later. on the 13th, he was obliged to take to his bed and was seized with 'double pneumonia, which ended fatally on Monday morning 16 September 1918. It is customary for sailors coming into port after a long voyage to sing a joyous song called Yo-Ho. This brave, fearless sailor sang, just as his life was ebbing out "Yo-Ho" in a clear, bright, happy voice, and just as he finished the last strain be passed away. He left a widow and two daughters to mourn his loss.'
Additional Information
His brother Private Ernest Thake who was killed in action on 10 May 1916 and is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
