Name
Oliver Owen Maskell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/11/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7383
Bedfordshire Regiment
68th Provisional Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FROGMORE (HOLY TRINITY) BURIAL GROUND, ST. ALBANS
Not Referenced
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street,
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore,
Napsbury Mental Hospital & Staff, London Colney
Pre War
Oliver Owen was born in 1878 at Bricketwood, Herts (baptised 11 Aug 1878 in Leavesden) to William Maskell, a labourer, and Emma (nee Crouch). The Family would consist of Parents, Oliver Owen, William Leonard (born 1873, Thomas Bertram (born 1874), Francesca (born 1875), Maud May (born 1880), Sidney Rayner (born 1882), Mabel Ellen (born 1886) ,Harriet Christine (born 1895), Constance Emily Born 1890).
Owen married Rose Amelia Cook on 5 Sep 1898, and on the 1901 Census they were living at Branch Road, Frogmore. There would be a second child, Norah Constance (born 1911). On the 1901 Census the family of his parents Sidney, Maud, Mabel, Christine, and Constance were living at Leavesden.
On the 1911 Census Owen & Rose were living with their son, Sydney Edward (born 1903) at Park Street, Frogmore. His parents and Constance were living at Buchnalls Cottages Garston.
Owen worked at the Sewage works at Napsbury Mental Hospital, Napsbury, London Colney.
Wartime Service
An obituary report from a November 1916 Herts Advertiser, recorded Private L O Maskell "of Park Street" and the 6th Divisional Battalion, met with a fatal accident. However, there is a more descriptive Newspaper report in the East Anglian Daily Times (14 Nov 1916) under the heading : ‘Soldier Killed at Dullingham Farm. Mr E R Ennion, Deputy Coroner for Newmarket and Haverhill held an inquiry into the death of Oliver Owen Maskell at Dullingham Farm. On the Saturday Oliver had been engaged in Agricultural Work at the farm and was threshing Barley when the platform he was kneeling on gave way, tipping him onto the asphalt floor. He was taken to Dr Gray in Newmarket and later transferred to Rous Memorial Hospital. He was operated on by Dr Openshaw & Dr Norman Gray but died the following day (Sunday, 12 Nov) from a fractured skull. A Verdict of Accidental Death was recorded and the Jury gave their Fees to his widow.’
Additional Information
No War Gratuity was granted (was not on Active Service) but arrears of £1 0s 4d was paid to his widow. Similarly no medals issued (no active service).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
