TOPIC:

I have been reseraching my family history and was interested to find that my great great grandfather was or may have been involved in and survived the Boar war. Born in 1882, george married Clara Oakley (his cousin) of Westmill, Hertfordshire. They married 2nd April 1898 in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. I know that he survived his time in south africa, since he had children either side of the war.

I was intrigued by the 1901 census which lists all of the family, including George with the comment "in south africa" by his name. I have no idea of his involvement in the war, but I assume that he must have been part of the yeomanry. He comes from a family of horsekeepers and farriers.

I would like to find out as much about him as possible and would appreciate any help or direction anyone can give me.

Kind Regards
Kev.

Hi Kev and welcome to the Forum!

There are a few possible matches on the medals rolls:

G Oakley 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
G Oakley 43rd Battery Royal Field Artillery
G Oakley 2nd Battalion The South Wales Borderers
G Oakley 2nd Bedfordshire
G Oakley 2nd Battalion Hampshire
G Oakley 2nd Battalion N Stafford Regimant Attached To 4th N Staff
G Oakley Royal Army Medical Corps
G Oakley Bedford Company 6th M I
G Oakley 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire
G Oakley 1st Battalion Port Elizabeth Town Guard
G Oakley 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire
G G Oakley Royal Army Medical Corps
G F Oakley 2nd Volunteer Service Company 1st Royal Sussex

Do you have any more details about him?

Regards
David

Hi David,

Thanks for your help.
Unfortuatly I know very little about George. As far as I know he did not have a middle name and was not in the army as full time career. His parents were Daniel Oakley (1841)and Mary Ann Freeman, both of Ardeley, Hertfordshire. It is only from the comments of the 1901 census that I know or beleive that he may have been in the Boer war.

Kind Regards
Kev.

Hi David,

If George, as I suspect was part of the imperial Yeomanry, would he have been absorbed into another unit such as the battalions that you have listed below or would a whole unit of volunteers have been despatched together?

I'm at a loss as to where to go from here. Any assistance would be greatly welcomed.

Kind Regards
Kev.

Kev,

If we focus on men with the surname Oakley whop served in the IY, the matches are not as good. There are 3:

34365 E Oakley, 6th Squadron 12th Regiment Imperial Yeomanry
14138 J G Oakley, 47th Squadron, 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
29812 T H Oakley, Paget's Horse, 51st & 73rd Squadrons Imperial Yeomanry

Do you think he could be a J G?

What leads you to think he served in the IY?

The papers that exist for George Oakleys are listed in FindMyPast as:



Some of these are clearly not possible but other may offer a lead?

Regards
David