Name
William Edwin Oakley
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/08/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/4828
Royal Sussex Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 7 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, New Mill Baptist Church, Tring
Pre War
William Edwin Oakley was born in Kings Norton, Birmingham, Worcestershire in 1895, the son of Edwin Richard, and Ruth (nee Stratford), and was baptised on 19 May 1895 at All Saints Church, Kings Heath, Worcs. (N.B. his mother had been born in Tring, Hertfordshire).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 31 Kings Road, Kings Norton, Worcs, where his father was working as house painter. He had two younger sisters Lily May (born 1897) and Minnie (born 1898). By the 1911 Census William was living and working at the Royal Hotel, Tring Station, Herts, aged 16 and working as a servant. His parents and Lily (a nursemaid) were then living at 3 New Town, New Mill, Tring which is the address he gave on enlistment and gave his occupation as waiter.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Brighton, Sussex on 7 Jan 1915 and joined the Royal Sussex Regiment as Private G3/ 4828 in 3rd (Reserve) Battalion for training. He was posted to 7th (Service ) Battalion on 25 Apr 1915. part of 36 Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division, which had been. in France since 1 Jun 1915, William joined his Battalion in France on 25 Nov 1915 who were in Reserve at Lillers following the Battle of Loos. The Division moved to the Somme in 1916 taking part in the Battle of Albert (1-13 Jul) where although in reserve on 2/3 July they were called upon to take over an attack that had failed but they were more successful. Later on 8 Jul they were again to press home an advance, before later during the Battle of Pozieres (23 Jul-3 Sep) they were ordered into action.
From the War Diary: TRENCHES, LA BOISSELLE OVILLERS LINE, 30 July: At 11:00 AM received orders from Brigade to relieve 11th Middlesex Regiment in front line west of POZIÈRES, relief complete by 4:15 PM. At 4:30 PM orders were received that in conjunction with the 11th Middlesex Regiment an attack was to be made against a strong point and 100 yards of enemy trench on the left flank. Lieutenant Colonel PARGITER 11th Middlesex Regiment was in charge of the operations. A party of 50 Middlesex Regiment made a frontal attack from the south whilst 50 of ‘D’ Company 7th Royal Sussex Regiment in bombing formation made a demonstration on the northern flank to divert the enemy’s attention. The frontal attack lost direction and entered our own trench 150 yards north of where they started from, the attack was therefore a failure. Casualties other ranks 4 killed, 1 missing, 24 wounded.
TRENCHES WEST OF POZIÈRES, 31 July: At 1:00 PM orders were received from Brigade that that the attack which failed last night on German strong point was to be resumed again tonight at 10:30 PM. The preparations were the same with the exception that in the event of the Middlesex Regiment attack failing a strong bombing party of 7th Royal Sussex Regiment were to work down the gap as far as possible and try to gain the objective. The Middlesex Regiment attack was discovered as soon as it started and they were prevented reaching the German Trench by machine gun and rifle fire. Our bombing party then worked down the gap and captured and consolidated 50 yards. Beyond this they were held up by a machine gun in a straight piece of trench. A second attack was launched by the Middlesex Regiment to try to get behind the machine gun. This attack also failed. We completed consolidation and held the captured 50 yards. Casualties 7 other ranks killed, 19 wounded.’
William was reported killed in action on 1 Aug 1916, during this period. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father Edwin received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £6 0s 3d. Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant but do not show the amount of pension received.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
