OAKES, William
| Service Number: | 6092 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Devizes, Wiltshire, England, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Marrickville, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine Driver |
| Died: | District of Swindon, Wiltshire, England, 16 October 1960, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Christ Church Burial Ground, Swindon,Wiltshire, England |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 6092, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 6092, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
William Oakes was born at Devizes, England in 1887 to parents George & Louisa Oakes (nee Hayden).
On 21st February, 1916 William Oakes enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 28 year old, single, Engine Driver from 611 Illawarra Road, Marrickville, NSW when he enlisted at Bathurst, NSW. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had been an apprentice in the Boot Trade with Reynolds & Coy, England.
Private William Oakes, Service number 6092, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Wiltshire (A18) on 22nd August, 1916 with the 13th Infantry Battalion, 19th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 13th October, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire, others were in the county of Dorset.
He was marched out to No. 3 Command Depot from Wool, England on 13th October, 1916.
On 12th December, 1916 Private Oakes proceeded overseas to France per S.S. Arundle. He was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 13th December, 1916. Private Oakes was taken on strength of 13th Battalion in France on 19th December, 1916.
Private Oakes reported sick on 4th February, 1917. He was admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance on 4th February, 1917 with a sprained ankle then transferred to Rest Station. He rejoined his Unit on 1st March, 1917.
He was on Leave from 12th September, 1917 & rejoined his Unit on 24th September, 1917.
On 26th September, 1917 Private Oakes was reported with his Unit. (This usually occurred when there had been no entries on Casualty Form – Active Service for a period of time (eg. Illness, woundings or transfers).
Private Oakes reported sick in France on 3rd November, 1917. He was admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd November, 1917 with Scabies. Private Oakes was transferred to 58th Casualty Clearing Station on 3rd November, 1917 then discharged to duty on 5th November, 1917. He rejoined 13th Battalion in France on 5th November, 1917.
On 16th May, 1918 Private William Oakes was wounded in action. He was admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance on 17th May, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to right arm & chest & transferred the same day to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station. Private Oakes was transferred to Ambulance Train 3 on 19th May, 1918 & admitted to 9th USA Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th May, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to arm, chest & right arm. He embarked for England on 6th June, 1918 on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle.
He was admitted to Horton County of London War Hospital, Epsom, England on 7th June, 1916 with bullet wounds to right arm – fractured Humerus – severe. He was transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent on 2nd August, 1918 then discharged to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 13th August, 1918.
Private Oakes was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 13th August, 1918 & medically classified as B2 b (temporarily unfit for General or Home Service).
He was returned to Australia on 23rd September, 1918 on H.T. Runic for early return due to bullet wounds to right elbow & chest. He disembarked in Australia on 26th November, 1918 then overland to 2nd Military District.
Private William Oakes was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 13th June, 1919. He was entitled to British War Medal & the Victory Medal.
William Oakes married Grace May Jepson on 19th November, 1921 in St. Clements’ Church, Marrickville, Sydney, NSW. Australia. William was listed as a 34 year old Fitter & Turner from Marrickville & Grace was listed as a 28 year old from 341 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville.
A daughter – Joyce May Oakes was born in 1926.
Grace May Oakes, wife of William Oakes, died 30th October, 1959 at Caringbah, NSW, Australia.
William Oakes died on 16th October, 1960, aged 73 years.
A death for William Oakes, aged 73, was registered in the December quarter, 1960 in the district of Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
He was buried in Christ Church Burial Ground, Swindon, Wiltshire, England
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/swindon.html
Click images to start slideshow.