William Oakley, Age 23

Private, 200309, 1/4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

The two Oakley brothers were the sons of William and Hannah who lived at 2 Ladies Row, Hinkshay. William Senior worked as a Puddler at an Ironworks. They were another set of parents who were to go to hell and back during the First War.

Little else is known about the lads, but William Junior judging by his regimental number was a pre-war Territorial as with most Dawley men serving with the 1/4th KSLI his number starts with 200***

Thomas had written from his training camp to his family at home on hearing of the news of the death of his brother William and the letter and others that he wrote whilst training at Park Hall Oswestry are still in the family’s possession.

On checking soldiers died William was listed as being born and resident in Hinkshay but Thomas was listed as being born at Dollay, Salop, now unless I am mistaken no such place exists and a miss—spelling of Dawley must be presumed.

William was the first to be killed falling in action on 30th December 1917 during the battle of Welsh Ridge in what became Dawley’s blackest day, with 7 men being killed or dying of wounds as a direct result of this action. William’s body was not found and his name appears on the Thiepval memorial to the missing on Pier/Face 12A - 12D.

More bad news came to Ladies Row and the Oakley family when in May 1918 their youngest son Thomas died of wounds on the 30th of that month. Thomas had written from his training camp to his family at home on hearing of the news of the death of his brother William and the letter and others that he wrote whilst training at Park Hall Oswestry are still in the family’s possession.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Commemorated Thiepval Memorial

***

Victory Medal	British War Medal	Territorial War Medal