Category Archives: Regiments

Sidney Edward Oates

Army, Other Regiments, Reading Blue Coat School, Registered War Grave

Sydney Edward Oates
Quarter Master Serjeant
3rd Battalion Suffolk Regiment .

War Plot

Oates SE photo screen wall

Sydney Edward Oates was the third son of late Mr & Mrs William Thomas Oates of “Moreton” Talford Avenue, Reading. Quartermaster Sergeant Oates died at Katesgrove Hospital.  In the Reading Standard of  August 11. 1917 he was described as “a gallant soldier and a keen, conscientious church worker”.  He was spoken of in glowing terms by his officers.  He had had a varied and honourable military career. It appears that his untiring energy in the early days of the war may have contributed to the illness which was the cause of his death.

Sydney Oates was born on Jan 12th 1870 in the parish of St. Giles and was educated at the British school, later going to the Blue Coat School.  Leaving school in 1884 he went into the ironmongery trade with Mr. Hawkes, High St.  He enlisted in the Suffolk Regt. on 7th Oct. 1889 and saw service in Egypt from 1889-1891, India from 1891-1892, and at home from 1893-1896 at Colchester and Warley.  He was on reserve for  3 years and served again with his regiment in the South African War, 1899-1902.  He remained in South Africa for some years after his 12 years service and on returning to England worked for Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corp. HQ in London.  He re-enlisted with the Suffolks on Nov. 12th 1914 and was stationed at Felixstowe.  He was invalided out in 1916 and passed away “bravely and patiently” as a pensioner.

The funeral took place with full military honours.  Chief mourners included Miss Gibbs & Pte. H. M. Oates, Canadian Expeditionary Force and his sisters.  Their were a large number of floral tributes.

His major wrote when he had to leave the battalion through ill health”  I should like to take the opportunity of thanking you for all the good work you have done from the time you came up until you were most unfortunately incapacitated….I personally owe you a deep debt of gratitude for your loyal and devoted services during a period when failure meant disaster….I know how grieved you are at being unable to see the war through, but rest easy on that score.  You have done your duty”.

His name is entered on the screen wall in the War Plot. His extensive service records are available on Ancestry UK.

Cedric Charles Okey Taylor

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Marlborough House School, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial

Lieutenant C.C. Okey Taylor
3rd Battalion East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) & Trench Motar Battery

Division 48

OKEY TAYLOR CC  CIMG2137CIMG2138

Cedric Charles Okey Taylor  was the grandson of a local Reading dignitary. His death is reported in The Chronicle of 15th December 1916.

“Attached to the Trench Motor Battery Z/14, 14th Division, BEF, France, fell in action on Sunday, December 3rd 1916.  He was not quite 22 years of age and the only son of Mrs. Taylor, of 31, Weltje Road, Ravenscroft Park, London, and the late Charles Warmsley Taylor, of Reading.”

His Captain communicated the news to his mother.

“He was at a gun position with his men when the dug-out was blown in.   His death must have been instantaneous, and two of his men were killed with him.  We have recovered his body, and he will be buried tomorrow, and as many of his brother officers that are available will attend.  I need hardly say how deeply sorry all his friends are, and to me it I is a personal loss, since he has been associated with me  longer than any other officer, and we have been together since he joined the Expeditionary Force.  One cannot speak too highly of his ability, his devotion to duty, and the keen interest he took in all his men and their welfare.  It is a sad loss which we all feel, and offer you our deepest sympathy.”

He is commemorated upon the grave of his grandfather in the Reading Cemetery and is buried in the Faubourg D’Amien Cemetery, Arras. Location I. J.58.

Upon his death he left his estate to his married sister Olive Margaret Okey Allner.

Ernest Frederick Nott

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Ernest Frederick Nott
Private 29031
Border Regiment attached to Machine Gun Corps.

Division 9

Ernest Frederick Knott is commemorated on the grave of his family number 9931.  He died on the 31st March 1918 aged 24. He was the son of John and Sarah Nott. The 1911 census gives the address as 127/9 Southampton Street, we are told that his father was a coal merchant. Living at home his brothers were Horace aged 10  was still at school and Walter aged 25 who was a general labourer. Ernest, then aged 16 is recorded as a club assistant.

The 1901 census records the name of third brother, Harry James Knott. He attested in Burton on Trent for service with the 6th Battalion North Staffs Territorial Force on 8 September 1914,  he gave his occupation as ironmongers assistant and his age as 23 years. His next of kin was given as Mrs Nott of 129 Southampton Street. He served 70 days until the 17 November 1914 when he was discharged. His war records do not give the reason.

Ernest Frederick Nott is buried at Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere, location I. O.9.

An ‘In Memoriam’ of March 29th 1919 gives a little information about his family.  We know that he was married, and in addition to his parents he had brothers.    His sister Annie was living in Winnipeg, Canada. The verse was from his sister:

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,
He kissed their drooping leaves,
It was for the Lord of Paradise
He bound them in his sheaves.
And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love;
She knew she would find them all again-
In the fields of light above.