OAKES, Orbell


Captain Orbell OAKES
Aged 34


2nd Battalion, Princess Alexandra's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)
Killed in Action on 12th March 1915


Orbell Oakes was born on 7th November 1880 at Mhow in India, son of Lt.Col. Orbell Henry and Laura Eliza Josephine OAKES (née CLIFTON)

1881 census...not found, still in India ?

1891 census....Aged 10 (recorded as Isbell -daughter) he was at 101 Albert Road East, Glasgow, with his father Ethell[sic] H Oakes [39] Major Worcestershire Regiment; his mother Laura E.B. [34]; brothers Henry J.L. [11] born E Indies and George C [1]; sisters Marion [8]born E Indies, Laura Eva [7] Maud T [5] both born Ireland and Gladys M [3].The Scottish census writing is almost uncypherable, hence many typos]

1901 census...Aged 20, a lieutenant in the militia, he was at Nowton Court with his mother Laura [44]; born Freemantle, Australia; brother Robert Claude[3] born Plymouth; sisters Eva [17] and Maud [15] both born Curragh Camp, Kildare, Gladys [13] and Vera [8] both born Glasgow, Beryl [5] born Plymouth. A brother had been born in Glasgow on November 7th 1899 (reported in Belfast Newsletter)

1911 census...Aged 30 Lieutenant in West African Frontier Force. His parents, brother Robert and sisters Gladys Mary, Vera Albinia and Beryl Mignon were at Nowton Hall.

His brother Henry James Lionel Oates born in India on 30th April 1879. He went to Rugby School and was in the Militia - 3rd Infantry Battalion Loyal North Lancaster Regiment in 1898 before joining the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment in May 1899 aged 20 years old as a 2nd Lt. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion to be sent to Burma but just before leaving he transferred to the 1st Battalion and was sent to South Africa landing on 20th Jan 1900 at Cape Town. He was made a Lt on 25th Feb 1900 and was wounded in action on 29th Nov 1900 at Rhenoster Kop when the regiment lost its commanding officer Lt Col Lloyd was killed. He was mentioned in dispatches in the LG 10th Sept 1901 and as a result of his wounds went on half pay 15th July 1902 and retired on 15th July 1907 and was retired at least till April 1920 as he took no part in WW1 due to his injuries. He gained the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tranvaal, South Africa 1901

Very much a military family, one has to be careful with identification during the Boer War as his father was there, also named Orbell, but he was commissioned whereas Orbell junior at that time was not.

His brother Robert was killed in aerial combat in 1916 see here
His nephew John Plampin Oakes was killed in Italy in 1944 see here




An entry from the Yorkshire Regiment website...
Captain Orbell Oakes - 6th and 2nd Battalions.
Orbell Oakes was born into a military family on November 7th 1880 at Mhow in India. He was educated at Wellington College and then pursued a military career being first commissioned in January of 1903 and seeing service in the Boer War. By the onset of the Great War he was serving as a Captain with the 6th battalion and then joined the 2nd battalion in France in the new year of 1915 after their grievous losses during the 1st Battle of Ypres.
In early March with the battalion in billets at Laventie they received orders for an attack on the German held village of Neuve Chapelle. Captain Oakes and his men moved into action at 2-30pm on March 10th occupying the cleared German trenches. Over the next two days, numerous counter attacks were launched by the enemy and on March 12th Captain Orbell Oakes was killed in action close to Moulin du Pietre at Neuve Chapelle aged 34.
The Green Howards Gazette wrote,"In him the regiment has lost an excellent officer and a good comrade"
Lt Col Alexander wrote, "He died in action gallantly doing his duty. He was hit in the head by a bullet and death must have been instantaneous. He had been doing splendid work with his company since joining the battalion and his loss will be deeply felt by us all".
Captain Oakes has no known grave and is remembered today on the Le Touret Memorial four miles north east of Bethune.






Photo CWGC

Orbell Oakes is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France panel 12

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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