Tom Oakden

Tom 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. Samuel and Catherine now had nine children: 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. Samuel and Catherine's nine 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. Frank served with the 7th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps and died of wounds on 18 September 1916, the day after Tom's death. Samuel snr. was living at 57 Kirkstead Street, Nottingham, in 1919 when he completed a form for the army listing 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.

1911 - gas meter maker. 1914 - general labourer

16 Bateman Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham

Tom Oakden served in the 11th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps. Tom attested on 7 September 1914 and joined at Winchester on the 10th. He was confined to barracks for 8 days and forfeited pay for being 'absent off pass' from 12nn 19 April 1915 until 1.30am 21 April 1915. He served in France from 21 July 1915 and was killed in action on 17 September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 13 A and 13 B). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His brother Frank served in the 7th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps (R/8326 Rifleman) and died of wounds received in action on 18 September 1916, the day after Tom was killed in action. Buried Heilly Station Cemetery, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, 29 September 1916: 'Oakden killed in action Tom Oakden, King’s Royal Rifles, 27 Bateman Street, Hyson Green.' 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, ‘Roll of Honour’, 2 October 1916: ‘Oakden. Killed in action, Rifleman T Oakden (Oakey), 27, Bateman-street. Nobly did his duty. A friend.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co) 'In memoriam' notice, 18th September 1917, Nottingham Evening Post :- “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.” 'In memoriam' notice, 18th September 1918, Nottingham Evening Post :- “OAKDEN. – In loving memory of our dear sons and brothers. Rfn. Tom Oakden, killed in action September 17th, 1916; also Frank, died of wounds September 17th, 1916, both K.R.R. Deeply mourned. – Father, brothers, and sisters.” Above two notices courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his father Samuel and Elizabeth Toroke (sic) 'guardian illegitimate child'