Name
Robert Oakley
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
202378
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Central Methodist Church Memorial, Letchworth, Willian War Memorial
Pre War
Robert Oakley was born in Willian in 1895to William Oakley, gardener, and Annie Maria (nee Taylor).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Harry (born 1889), Florence (born 1892) and Robert were living at Roxley Gardens, Willian, Herts.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents Harry (carpenter), Florence (dressmaker),Robert (garden boy) together with James Taylor (Annie’s father, born 1823) were living at Roxley Farm cottage, Willian.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Robert. He originally enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 22318 at some time early after the Great War was declared and was transferred at some unknown date to Royal Welsh Fusiliers as Private 202378 in the 1st/4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, which, since 1 Sep 1915, were part of Divisonal Troops of the 47th (2nd London) Division of the Territorial Force in France. His serial number was in the range (200000-240000) that was allocated to 1st/4th Battalion during the Territorial Force renumbering in 1917. His original serial number was 10808.
He was probably with his Battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in the phase of the German Counter Attack (30 Nov-3 Dec 1917).
In 1918 the German Spring Offensive was launched against the Allies and this Division was one of many that were defending against this Offensive at the Battle of St Quentin (21-23 Mar), It was in this last Battle that Robert was killed in action on 23 Mar 1918, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £15 10s and arrears of £9 14s 3d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
