Oswald Edgar Shepherd
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Oswald was the youngest of the five sons of Jabez (b. Marlborough) and Alice Marion Shepherd (b. London). In 1891 Jabez, his wife and their three sons, Albert (9, b. Hereford), Ernest FG (7, b. Exeter) and William (4, b. London), were living at 90 Vale Road, Lancaster. Ten years later in 1901 they were living at 66 Vale Street with four of their sons, Ernest (17), William (14), Harold Arthur (9, b. Lancaster) and Oswald (8, b. Lancaster); Jabez employed a female live-in servant. The census gives Jabez's occupation as a principal officer with the Inland Revenue. By 1911 Jabez (67) and Alice (50) had moved to Nottingham and were living at 65 North Road, West Bridgford; only William, Harold and Oswald were in the family home on the night of the census. The CWGC record gives his father's name as 'James' and his parent's address as 5, Taunton Road, West Bridgford. Jabez died on 18 October 1921, residence 5 Taunton Road. Alice Marion, then living at 104 Robin Hood Chase, Nottingham, died in the City Hospital on 1 January 1939 aged 80; probate was granted to her son, William.
He was in theatre (Egypt) from 26 April 1915 and was killed at Gallipoli on 22 August 1915 although his family did not receive confirmation of his death until November 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Family grave in Nottingham Southern Cemetery, Wilford Hill: 'Also of Oswald Edgar beloved youngest son killed at Gallipoli Aug. 22nd 1915 aged 22 years.' Also named on the gravestone are: Jabez Shepherd, 18 October 1921 (77), Alice Marion Shepherd, 1 January 1939 (80), Hilda M Smith, 27 February 1942 (21), Emma May Shepherd, 28 September 1937 (42) and William Shepherd, 19 November 1958 (72). Obituary published 9th November 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SHEPHERD. – Killed in action, August 22nd, 1915, Trooper Oswald Edgar, aged 22 years, 1/1st South Notts. Hussars, youngest and dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, 65, North-road, West Bridgford. Thy will be done. – From father, mother, and family. (Official notice received November 2nd, 1915).” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
