Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Thompson Oxley, was the only son of William Oxley born at Sunderland, County Durham in 1867 who married at Durham City in 1895 to Mary Jane Lowson born 1873 at Merrington, County Durham, who had a son of her own, John Robert Lowson, born October 26th 1893 at Tudhoe Colliery, County Durham.
William Thompson Oxley was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1896, his sister Martha Isabel, July 10th 1900, both at Tudhoe, County Durham, where they were living in 1901 at 62, Attwood Terrace, William Snr employed below ground at the colliery as a coal miner/stone-man. They had moved by 1911 to 1, Owen Street, Dean Bank, Ferryhill, his father now ran his own newsagents from home assisted by William Jnr (15), his sister attended school. Although in the census of that year William Snr and Mary Jane declared they had 3 children, John Robert Lowson never lived with them, he was brought up by his grandparents. In 1911 at the age of 17 he was employed as a grocer’s assistant by the Co-operative Store, living at 37, Attwood Terrace, Tudhoe, in the home of his widowed grandmother Martha Lowson along with his uncle, 36-year-old John Lowson, a butcher for his own account.
Britain declared a state of war with Germany, August 4th 1914. William Thompson Oxley enlisted at Ferryhill, December 8th 1915 for the duration of the war. Assigned as Private 28085 Durham Light Infantry he joined his regiment at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and posted to the 4th Battalion at Seaham Harbour, January 20th 1916, part of the coastal defences but also a training unit for troops intended for service overseas. During his time there the camp was shelled by a German U-boat, July 11th 1916. His training complete, now a qualified range finder and bomber and having been appointed Lance Corporal, May 27th 1916, he departed via Folkestone bound for France, December 20th 1916. At the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples he was posted to the 12th Battalion D.L.I. and reposted December 24th to the 15th Battalion, joining his regiment in the field, attached to the 64th Brigade, 21st Division on the Somme. Lance Corporal Oxley was wounded by shrapnel to the chin, February 17th 1917 and taken by the 65th Field Ambulance to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques, Pas de Calais, France, then on to the 18th General Hospital, Camiers, admission February 26th 1917. He returned to the 35th Infantry base Depot at Etaples, reporting to the Officer Commanding, March 3rd, re-joining his regiment March 23rd 1917 in the Arras sector where the 15th Battalion participated during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 and was promoted to Acting Corporal, June 6th. The division remained in the sector until it was moved to Belgium in October 1917 where it participated during the ensuing Third Battle of Ypres (July 31st-November 10th 1917).
October 10th 1917 Acting Corporal Oxley was reported as missing and next of kin were informed. Enquiries were made as to his whereabouts which continued for almost 6 months. A deposition made, March 23rd 1918, by Private 207283 J. W. Baker 5th D.L.I. ”that he [Corporal Oxley] was killed overnight by a shell when proceeding to Dressing Station after being wounded,” was accepted as sufficient evidence that Acting Corporal William Thompson Oxley was officially dead and next of kin were informed accordingly.
Post war during the clearing of the battlefields 3 isolated graves, without crosses, were found at map reference J. 15. a. 4. 9. During the exhumation the remains of Acting Corporal William Thompson Oxley were identified by means of a paybook, letters, photo and Durham Numeral Corporal, the other men were identified as British, one as having the rank of Corporal, however, their names remained unknown. Acting Corporal Oxley was brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery near Ypres, Belgium for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain, May 17th 1919, grave XII. A. 7. A letter dated March 31st 1921 was sent to William’s father by the Officer in Charge, Infantry Records, York, it reads as follows, “Sir, With reference to the late No. 28085 A/Cpl. William Thompson Oxley, 15th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, whose death is presumed to have occurred on or since 04-10-1917, I regret to inform you that information has been received from the War Office, notifying that it must now be definitely accepted that the soldier was killed, and that his grave has been located in Hooge Crater British Cemetery, Zillebeke, 1¾ miles E. S. E. of Ypres, I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, Major for Colonel, i/c Infantry Records.” At the time of his demise October 4th 1917 Acting Corporal 28085 William Thompson Oxley Durham Light Infantry was 21 years of age and single. Whilst the confirmation of William’s death shattered any hope his family had of him somehow, somewhere, being found alive, they must have found solace in the fact he had received a Christian burial.
William’s half brother John Robert Lowson served with the Royal Field Artillery and survived the conflict.
His father William Oxley received all monies due to him, a pension, his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the personal effects recovered during the exhumation process, sent to him at Pensbury House, Church Lane, Ferryhill, County Durham. He commissioned at a cost of 11 shillings 8 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Though The Body Be Absent The Spirit Is Ever Near.”
William Oxley died in 1936 aged 69 years at Gateshead, County Durham, his wife Martha Isabel Oxley nee Lowson aged 65 years of 8, Lynton Gardens, Darlington, July 9th 1938. Effects in the sum of 683 pounds 10 shillings to John Robert Lowson, grocer and general dealer and Martha Isabel Gittins.
Martha Isabel Oxley was married in the district of Sedgefield in 1923 to William Abraham Gittins born June 19th 1898. In 1939 they were living at Darlington with their daughter Isabel born February 28th 1931. William was employed as a railway relief signalman. He died aged 73 years in 1971 registered in the district of York, Martha Isabel Gittins nee Oxley in 1985 aged 85 years registered in the county of Bedfordshire.
John Robert Lowson, a grocer, in 1939 was married and living with his wife Elsie nee Bradley, born September 21st 1895 and daughter Joan, born April 15th 1920, at Pensbury House, Church Lane, Sedgefield. John Robert Lowson died aged 91 years in 1985 registered in the district of North Cleveland.
It should be noted the entry of the CWGC has afforded William Thompson Oxley the full rank of Corporal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Thompson Oxley is remembered at Ferryhill on F38.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 274 as Acting Corporal.
