Frank Oakden
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank was the son of Samuel and Catherine Oakden (née Emblow). His father Samuel was born in Derby in 1864, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Oakden. His mother Catherine Emblow was born in Nottingham in about 1863. They were married at Radford St Peter on 20 March 1886 and had 12 children, nine of whom survived infancy or childhood. All the children were born in Nottingham with the exception of William who was born in Darwen, Lancashire (reg. Blackburn): George Henry b. 1886 d. 1886, Tom b. 1887, Frank b. 1888, William b. 1890, Samuel b. 1892, Kate b. 1894, Ada b. 1896 d. 1902, Mabel birth registered 1898 (J/F/M), Florence b. 1899, Harry birth registered 1901, Albert b. 1902 d. 1902 and Lily b. 1904. Tom, Frank and Samuel were baptised at Hyson Green St Stephen on 15 February 1899. In 1891 Samuel (26) an iron moulder, and his two sons Tom (3) and Frank (2), were living with his parents at 27 Bateman Street, Nottingham. His wife Catherine (27) and their son William (7 months) was living with her married sister, Annie Dunicliffe, and her husband on Plimsoll Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. Their first child, George Henry, had died in infancy five years earlier. By 1899 the family was living at 3 Shipstone Terrace, Hyson Green, and this was still their address in 1901. In the home with their parents were: Tom an errand boy, Frank, William, Samuel (8), Kate (6), Ada (4), Mabel (3), Florence (1) and Harry (under one year). Ada died the following year and the youngest child Lily was born in 1904. The family was living at 76 Saville Street, Hyson Green, by 1911. Their nine surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Tom a gas meter maker, Frank an unemployed brass bobbin maker, William a hosiery trimmer, Samuel an unemployed printer, Kate a cigarette maker, and Mabel, Florence, Harry and Lily (6) who were at school. Frank attested in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) in June 1913. He named his parents and brothers, Thomas, William, Samuel and Harry, all of 16 Bateman Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin. Catherine died in August 1916. Tom served with the 11th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps and was killed in action on 17 September 1916, the day before Frank's death. Samuel was living at 57 Kirkstead Street, Nottingham, in 1919 when he completed a form for the army listing his son Tom's surviving blood relatives. Six of his seven surviving children - William, Harry, Kate, Mabel, Florence and Lily - were still living at home while Samuel was at Hart Street, Nottingham. Samuel snr. died in 1930.
7th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. Frank attested in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists), 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters (4/4587) on a six year engagement on 21 June 1913. He undertook recruit training between 21 June 1913 and 22 November 1913 and was present 11 May 1914-6 June 1914. He was mobilized on 6 August 1914 but discharged on 24 October 1914 'in consequence of not likely to become an efficient Special Reservist on account of conduct' (regulation reference cited and approved by lieutenant-colonel). However, Frank later enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and served in France from 19 May 1915. He died of wounds received in action at No. 38 Casualty Clearing Station on 17 September 1916. He was buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, France (grave ref. II. H. 44). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Heilly Station Cemetery (extract): 'The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917.' (www.cwgc.org) Note: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his date of death 18 September. UK Soldiers Died in the Great War gives the date as 17th September 1916. However, the register of the disposal of his personal effects records his death taking place between 16th - 18th September 1916. The Medal Roll (1914/15 Star) gives the date of death as 17th September 1916.
His brother Tom served in the 11th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps (R/3777 Rifleman) and was killed in action on 17 September 1916, the day before Frank's death. Tom has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 30 September 1916: 'Oakden killed in action Frank and Tom Oakden, 16 Bateman Street, Hyson Green, sons of Samuel and the late Kathleen Oakden.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 2 October 1916: ‘Oakden. Killed in action, Frank and Tom Oakden, 16, Bateman-street, Hyson Green, the dearly loved sons of Samuel and the late Katherine Oakden. Dad & sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In memoriam', 18 September 1917: “Oakden. – In loving memory of our dear sons, Private Tom Oakden, killed in action September 17th, 1916; also Frank, died of wounds September 17th, 1916, both of King's Royal Rifles. Deeply mourned. – From father, sisters, and brothers.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. WW1 Pensions Ledgers Index Card: named his father Samuel and E Towle 'mother of illegitimate child'
