Name
Samuel George Oakins
2 October 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
177585
Royal Engineers
Depot
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY
I. I. 20.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour (2018 Revision), Little Gaddesden, Family grave St Peter & St Paul churchyard, Little Gaddesden
Pre War
Samuel George Oakins was born on 2 October 1883 in Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, the son of John Thomas and Emma Oakins.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at No. 1 Little Gaddesden, next to the The Church and The Rectory, and his father was working as a Gardener Domestic. They had moved to No. 36 Little Gaddesden by 1901 and Samuel was working as a Painter. He was a member of the Little Gaddesden Brass Band along with his brother Stephen.
He married Ethel Emily Lee in 1910 in Hitchin and on the 1911 Census they were living with his parents at No. 36 Little Gaddesden. Samuel was working as a Plumber on the Estate and his father was a Watchman for the mansion (probably the Ashridge Estate).
They had had three children, Pelham Marcus born 1912, Violet born 1915 and Samuel George born on 22nd November 1917, named after his father.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Berkhamsted and served in the Royal Engineers, later transferring to the Northumberland Fusiliers (reg. no. 57825) and then the 20th Company, Labour Corps (reg. no. 421646).
He was killed on 11th November 1917, aged 34, during the Battle of Ypres and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
Additional Information
His headstone inscription, ordered by his mother, Mrs E E Oakins, 36 Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, Herts. reads "IN EVER LOVING MEMORY IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH". His widow received a pension of £1 9s 7d a week from 24 June 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org., littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk
