Lance Corporal G/7302 Charles William Oakman, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, was born 11th of September 1877 at Basingstoke, one of two children, the son of William Oakman (1855 to 1883) and Ellen nee Monger (1854 to 1905) of Charter Alley, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

By 1891, the family were at 9, Market Street, Hastings. William had died and Ellen was a widow, aged 38 she was born in Basingstoke and was working as a cook.

Children recorded are Charles aged 14 a boot shop errand boy; William aged 11 a boot repairer and Sydney aged 5 - all are recorded as born in St Leonards.

The 28th of March 1903, Charles entered the serving of the LB&SCR. The LB&SCR ledger does not name his first place of employment but on the 17th of January 1914 he was “removed to Haywards Heath”.

1903 was a momentous year indeed as, during the autumn of which, Charles married Sarah Ann Collins (1881 to 1937) at the East Brighton Congregational Church. At the time he was residing at 34, Soham, Queens Road, Haywards Heath.

The 1911 census finds the couple residing at 71, Western Road, Lewes. Sussex. Charles aged 34 is a railway carman working for the LB&SCR; Sarah Ann aged 31 was born at Hollington. The couple have been married for eight years and have produced three children, one of which died in infancy.

Children recorded are Violet May aged 7 and Lily Doris aged 1, both born in Lewes. The couple would go on the have four children in all. (*) LB&SCR = London Brighton and South Coast Railway.

The Argus for the 7th of May 1912 reports that Charles went before the magistrates who fined him 5s for allowing a horse and cart belonging to the LB&SCR to be left unattended in Lewes High Street at 12.10pm on the 25th. Whilst employed as a waiter, Charles enlisted at Chichester into the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 5027

He states that he was serving with the Militia of the Royal Sussex Regiment . He was 5ft 45/8 ins tall.

His enlistment took place on the 26th of November 1895 and he joined the regiment the same day and was posted to the 2nd Battalion.

On the 17th of January 1896 he was appointed Lance Corporal but reverted to Private the following month at his own request.

Following the end of his period of engagement was posted to the Army Reserve on the 22nd of January 1903, but re-enlisted for four years on the 26th of November 1907 and served until being transferred to the Army Reserve at the end of his engagement of service on the 25th of November 1911.

During this period of service, Charles served at home from enlistment until the 9th of November 1898 when he went to India, where he served until returning home on the 19th of November 1902.

Charles re-enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment on the 21st of June 1915 at Haywards Heath and joined the same day at Chichester.

On the 28th of July, he was posted to the third Battalion. The 14th of June 1916, he was appointed unpaid L/Cpl, which was substantiated as paid two months later and he was posted to the BEF on the 23rd of November and on the 7th of December, was posted to the 7th Battalion.

Charles was gassed in the vicinity of Arras and evacuated home on the 13th of September 1917. Declared physically unfit for military service he was discharged on the 23rd of October 1917 and issued with Silver War Badge, number 286118 on the 14th of December.

His Medal Index Card records his entitlement to the War Medal and the Victory Medal. The health of Charles continued to deteriorate and he died on the 6th of June 1920 from the result of being gassed and was buried in Lewes Cemetery.

The Sussex Express for Friday 11th of June 1920 reported upon his death, funeral and death under the column heading “Lewes ex-Soldier’s Death”. 

The paper reports that “The death occurred on Sunday, after a long illness contracted during the War, of Mr. Charles William Oakman, of 1, North-street, Lewes. A native of Hastings, he enlisted in November, 1895, at the age of 18½ years, in the 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, and served in India, where he was at the time of the South African War. He came out on the reserve after eight years, and was then employed by the L.B. and S.C. Railway Company in the parcels department at the Lewes passenger station. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of the European War and went to France. He was invalided out in September, 1917 and had been ill ever since. For the last eight months he had been confined to his bed. A widow, two daughters and one son are left to mourn their loss. Mr. Oakman was 43 years of age. As recently as the previous Sunday Mrs. Oakman suffered another bereavement in the death of her sister, Mrs. Horsley, of Hastings. The funeral took place yesterday (Thursday) afternoon at the Cemetery. Reposing on the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, were the service cap of the deceased and two family wreaths”.