Biography of Private William Arthur Oakden (7010)
1st battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
6260 The Kent R.G.A Militia
Died 14th November 1914

Soldier

  • Name: WIlliam Arthur Oakden
  • Date of birth: 1886
  • Place of Birth: Camberwell, Surrey, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: April – June 1886
  • Place of Birth Registration: Lambeth, Surrey, England

Father

  • Name: Arthur John Oakden
  • DOB: 1861
  • Place of Birth: Camberwell, Surrey, England
  • Occupation: Mercantile clerk (Ship Brokers)

Mother

  • Name: Ellen Horwood
  • DOB: 1857
  • Place Of Birth: Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire, England
  • Marriage: 1882 Lambeth, Surrey, England

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Ellen Hosking Oakden, 1883, Camberwell
  • Arthur Percy Oakden, 1884, Camberwell
  • William Arthur Oakden, 1886, Camberwell
  • Winifred Emily Oakden, 1888, Camberwell
  • Hilda Maud Oakden, 1890, Camberwell
  • Norman Edward Oakden, 1892, Camberwell
  • Clifford Stanley Oakden, 1896, Leytonstone
  • Albert Cecil Oakden, 1898, Leytonstone

Census

  • 1891: William is living with his parents at 1 Sansom Street, Camberwell, Surrey.
  • 1901: William is living with his parents at 97 Howson Road, Lewisham, Surrey.
  • 1911: William is living with his parents at 61 Ruckholt Road, Leyton, Essex. The census gives him an age of 24 and he is listed as a Canvaser (photography).
Relatives in services

  • None found

Wife

  • Name: Eva Annie Goody
  • Date of birth: 17th November 1890
  • Place of Birth: Sudbury, Suffolk, England

Marriage

  • Date of Marriage: 1914
  • Place of Marriage: Bourne District

Wife’s parents

  • Father: Robert Cross (Step Father)
  • Mother: Edna Goody

Newspaper Mentions

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 19th December 1914
    REPORTED KILLED AT THE FRONT. – News was received on Tuesday morning that P.c. Oakden, who had been called up on the reserve, had been killed in action.  The news was conveyed in a letter to Mrs. Oakden by the Quartermaster from the seat of war, but up to the time of writing no confirmation had been reieved from the War Office.  P.c. Oakden was married only on August 1st, and on the following day recieved notice to rejoin his regiment.  Mrs Oakden has continued jer residence at Bourne, and when the news became known there were many expressions of sympathy for her.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 30th January 1915
    THE DEATH OF P.C. OAKDEN – Confirmation was receieved on Thursday morning of the death of P.c. Oakden, killed in action on Nov. 14th.  Within the past month, the War Office stated, in reply to an equiry, that the latest information was that Mr. Oakden was serving with his regiment.  The present bad news adds to the sadness of his young widow, who was maturally buoyed up by the hope that the rumour of his death was incorrect.

 

  • Sheffield Daily Telegraph Thursday 4th March 1915
    Under date 6th Febrauary:-
    KILLED
    Oakden (7010), W., Berks.

 

  • The Scotsman Thursday 4th March 1915
    Under date 6th February
    KILLED
    Oakden, 7010, W., Berks.

 

  • Ablingdon Free Press Friday 5th March 1915
    CASUALTIES OF THE BERKS REGT.
    A FURTHER LIST.
    The following further casualties in the Berks Regiment are announced:-
    KILLED
    Oakden, W., 7010

 

  • Berkshire Chronicle Friday 5th March 1915
    THE CASUALTY LIST.
    HEAVY BERKS LOSSES>
    MANY KILLED.
    This week’s casualty list contains the names of many Berkshire men who have laid down their lives for their country.
    ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.
    N.C.o.’S AND MEN KILLED.
    Private W. Oakden, 7010

 

  • Reading Mercury Saturday 6th March 1915
    CASUALTY LIST.
    ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT
    N.C.O.’S AND MEN KILLED
    Private W. Oakden, 7010.

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • Available (pre war)

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private William Arthur Oakden, 7010, 1st Bn Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire) Regiment was killed in action on 14th November 1914 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Wife Eva Annie

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal
  • The 14 Star

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
  • Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Private William Arthur Oakden, 7010, 1st Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment who died on 14 November 1914 Age 27
  • Son of Mr. and Mrs. Oakden, of Leyton, Essex, husband of Mrs. F. Coulson (formerly Oakden), of 23, St. Paul’s St., Stamford, Lincs.
  • Remembered with honour, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
  • Panel 45.

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office