OAKLEY, HARRY JOHN
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Private
14696512
17/09/1944
18
Devonshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
II. A. 9.
Just a memory, fond and true from us who thought the world of you.
mum, dad, sisters and brothers
Additional Information:
Son of John and Daisy Oakley, of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
Harry John Oackley served with the 2nd Battalion Devons. On the 17th of September 1944 his unit was part of an operation called “Market Garden”. The Devons were clearing the flanks for the Irish Guards during their race to reach Arnhem. Next to the road from Lommel, Belgium, toward Valkenswaard, Harry Oakley was killed.
Harry didn´t have to enlist, but signed up when he was 16 by lying about his age.
He was always known as John and his father was known as Jack. John had three younger sisters, Violet, Joan and Maurice. My mother remembers John well and said he was a lovely person and good fun. He also worked on the land when he left school, as Biggleswade is a rural area and is well known for producing vegetables, especially Brussels sprouts.
Before John left to join up, the family had a party at the pub, which was near to where John lived, called the Gardeners Arms. Mum said everyone had a good time and got a bit tipsy but they all knew it could be the last time they saw him.
Original gravesite along the road from Belgium towards Valkenswaard.
From the service records of Harry John Oakley, the following account can be reconstructed.
Harry John Oakley was born on 11 October 1925 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. In civilian life he worked as a casual farm worker. He was not married.
He enlisted in the British Army on 6 January 1944 and joined the General Service Corps. During his service he was transferred to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment on 5 February 1944, to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 2 May 1944, to the Durham Light Infantry on 27 June 1944, and finally to the Devonshire Regiment on 26 August 1944.
Harry John Oakley embarked for service in North West Europe on 24 June 1944.
According to his service records, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with fair hair and blue eyes.
Harry John Oakley was killed in action on 17 September 1944.
