Thomas Oakley Cheshire regiment 6th battalion

Hi,

I am looking for any information regarding my grandfather and the time he served with the cheshires. I was very young when he died in 1991 and I am aware that he never spoke of his time in the war. My dad managed to get snippets but never went into detail about anything.

I have finally managed to find some info on force war records stating his service number and that he was wounded in Italy in 1944. Can anyone help me find out anything else out about what he did. My dad seems to think he joined the Northumberland fusiliers after fighting with the 8th army and finally ended up in Germany.

The following is the only info I have at the moment (I have sent off for his service records).

Thomas Oakley 4911997 Acting Warrant Officer 2nd class.
Thomas Oakley 4911997 War Substantive Serjeant. Wounded 30/09/1944
Date of action 10/09/1944

Thomas Oakley Serjeant
Wounded 17/10/1944 Central med and Italy
Cheshire Regiment 6th Battalion
Casualty list no 1579

Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks
Laura

 

Laura.

If your grandfather served in 6 CHESHIRES then that would place him in 56 Infantry Division.

The Cheshire Regiment were one of six Infantry Regiments who were turned into Machine Gun Regiments in the 1930s. 6 CHESHIRES were allocated as the Machine Gun Battalion for 56 Infantry Division. This gave much more firepower to the Division because the Battalions were equipped with Vickers Medium Machine Guns and, later, 4.2 inch mortars and 20mm Oerlikon Anti Aircraft Guns.

He landed at Salerno in Sep 43, crossed the Volturno in Oct 43, assaulted Monte Camino in Nov and Dec 43, crossed the Garigliano in Jan 44, went to Anzio in Mar 44 and fought on the Gothic Line in Sep 44.

He had a busy war.

It is likely that he later joined the Northumberland Fusiliers because they too were a Machine Gun Regiment. Only seeing the Service Record would confirm this.

Regards

Frank

 

Hello Laura,

That is a South Staffordshire Regiment army number, so his army path started there.

Your grandfather is mentioned at Page 198 in the regimental history: 'The History Of The Cheshire Regiment In The Second World War' (Crookenden). He was in ‘A’ Company, 6th Bn Cheshire Regiment. He won the Military Medal on 25 November 1943:

Best,

Steve.

 

Awarded Military Medal - you can get it free at present:
Recommendation for Award for Oakley, Thomas Rank: Serjeant Service No: ... | The National Archives

Hopefully you have sent off for his official service records, ONLY available from the MOD:
Get a copy of military service records

To correct some of the information in your post:

Casualty List No. 1565 Dated 30 Sept 44
Expeditionary Forces / Central Mediterranean / Italy / Wounded
6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
4911991 (see below) OAKLEY W/Sjt T, MM Date of casualty 10.9.44

Casualty List No. 1579 Dated 17 Oct 44
This was just to correct his service number from 4411991 to 4911997.

 

Wow! I am gobsmacked with the information you have been able to provide me already.

I did shed a tear for the fact that he was awarded a Military medal and we were completely unaware. From what I have been told by my father he never applied for his official military medals. The things he must of gone though and the fact he came home to find out his brother had died in Burma really took a toll. It all makes me understand him a little better. I had been told he was a machine gunner so this all makes sense.

I have applied for his official service records from the MOD and look forward to learning so much more about him. His service number being from South Staffs as we originate from Stafford itself... if I remember rightly he enlisted at Chester Castle?


Thanks again
Laura

 

Your grandfather is not mentioned in the regimental history 'The History Of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the Second World War' (CN Barclay).

His service records should reveal all...

Best,

Steve.

 

Laura.

Here it is:

 

Laura.

If he was wounded on 10 Sep 44 then A Company would have been supporting 167 Infantry Brigade on the Gothic Line at Croce where they were holding on by their fingernails.

Regards

Frank

 

Commendation signed by no less than Maj-Gen. Douglas AH Graham and Lt-Gen. Brian G Horrocks.

Laura - I recommend that you (or whoever is your grandfather’s NOK/appropriate) applies for his medals, including the MM and that these are kept or even framed, together with a better copy of his commendation (if obtainable) and a brief analysis of his service records.

Quite a collection...

Best,

Steve.