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2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
| Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry? There are:5386 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. - Barnet Charles. Sgt. (d.16th May 1915)
- Bennett James.
- Blackwell Albert Christie.
- Cross Horatio Nelson. Pte. (d.14th Mar 1915)
- George Claude. Pte. (d.17th Dec 1918)
- Harding George. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
- Johnson Charles Edward. Sgt. (d.22nd August 1917)
- Lyman MM. James Jesse. Pte. (d.11th Sep 1918)
- Lyman MM. James Jesse. Pte. (d.111th Sep 1918)
- Matthews Frank. Pte. (d.21st Oct 1914)
- Pithers Herbert. Pte. (d.28th Feb 1917)
- Relf Lionel B. L/Cpl. (d.10th June 1916)
- Thomas Samuel Augustus Stewart. Pte. (d.19th July 1916)
- Turner Frank Edward. Pte. (d.26th Nov 1914)
- Vale Edward Charles. Pte. (d.9th Oct 1917)
- White Frederick John. Pte. (d.22nd August 1918)
- Wilson Job. Pte. (d.8th October 1918)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from other sources.
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Pte. James Jesse Lyman MM. 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.111th Sep 1918) James Lyman was killed in action on the 11th of September 1918, aged 24 and is buried in the Hermies Hill British Cemetery in France.
He was a resident of Gayhurst, Buckinghamshire
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Pte. Herbert Pithers 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.28th Feb 1917) Herbert Pithers was my maternal great-grandfather.
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Pte. Frederick John White 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.22nd August 1918) Frederick White's name is on the war memorial in Shabbington Churchyard. Shabbington is 3 miles from Thame, Oxon but is itself in Bucks.
I am researching the names on the memorial and would welcome any information, no matter how small.
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Pte. Samuel Augustus Stewart Thomas 2/1st Btn. Oxfordfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.19th July 1916) Stewart Thomas served as a signaller with the the 2/1st (Buckinghamshire) Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TF) during the Great War. He was born in Moss, Wrexham on 8th of March 1899, the son of Alexander Augustus Stewart and Florence Helena (nee Williams) Thomas. His father, a native of Worsley in Manchester was a regular soldier, who rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major in 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. His mother was originally from Bryn Mally, Summerhill. Siblings: Hephzie Florence (b 1897, Moss; d 1905), Leslie Victor (b 1902, London; d 1978, Macclesfield), Francis Lloyd (b 1903, Aldershot; d 1986, Wrexham), Vera Mary (b b 1906, Aldershot), Alun Robert (b 1908, Windsor; d 1983, Havering), Meryl Eileen (b 1910, Slough; d 1975, Wrexham), Frederick Glyn (b 1912, Windsor; d 1988, Wrexham) and Brian Alexander (b 1913, Windsor; d 1991).
In 1901, the family was living in the Victoria Barracks in Windsor and by 1911, in Langley, Berkshire where Alexander, having retired from the army, was employed as a clerk manager in a copper mining business until his death on 15th of March 1915, after which Florence returned to live in Wrexham, residing at 15 Maesgwyn Road.
Stewart was educated in army schools in England and India, and at Langley Council School and Slough Secondary School. He volunteered for military service and was enlisted in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 8th of February 1915, aged only 15 years and 11 months. At this time the official age for recruitment was 18 years. Clearly under-age, Stewart must have volunteered with the consent of at least one parent and, as his father died only a month later, his efforts must have been supported by his mother.
He was posted to 2/1st Battalion (TF) which had been formed at Aylesbury, in September 1914 as a second-line unit. It moved to Northampton in January 1915 and was part of 184 Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. It then moved to Writtle and them Broomfield in Essex in April. In January 1916, it moved to Parkhouse Camp on Salisbury Plain before embarking on active service to France on 25th of May 1916.
With the battalion being originally designated for home defence, it was not intended that it should go on active service, therefore, when it did so, all those men under-age should have been retained at the depot. Stewart however, embarked with the battalion in May, aged 16 years and 2 months.
In the first week of July, the battalion moved to the right sub-section of the Somme front at Ferme de Bois in the area around Richebourge St Vaast. On the 15th in moved back to Laventie in preparation for an attack that took place on 19th of July.
During the last phase of the bombardment the infantry moved out through Rhondda Sap at 17.40 hours into No Man's Land in four waves. At 18.00 they assaulted the German trenches. An RFC observer described the advance as "Magnificent", adding that no man was seen to waver. The German defensive fire was, however, lethal and their machine guns mowed down the advancing men and by 18.30 it was clear that the attack had failed.
2/1st Oxs & Bucks casualties were 4 officers and 62 other ranks killed, 1 officer died of wounds, 8 officers and 180 other ranks wounded, 2 officers and 65 other ranks missing (believed killed). Stewart Thomas was serving as a signaller in the battalion and was declared missing, believed killed in action during the attack. The officer commanding the signalling section wrote to Mrs Thomas:
"Your son (who by reason of his smartness at work and cheerful good nature was loved and respected by all) died as unselfishly and nobly as he lived. Your boy had before him on the 19th about the hardest task a man could be called upon to do, viz., to go into the thick of a fearful action as practically a non-combatant, and consequently with none of that excitement and lust to get at the Hun, to help and banish fear. But he banished fear without that, and went out cheerfully with his comrades in order that when it became necessary for them to ask for help or more ammunition, he might be on the spot to do it for them with his telephone." [De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, v3]
Stewart Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing. He was aged 17 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Borough War Memorial, the Parish Church Memorial, the Wrexham & East Denbighshire War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour, the North Wales Heroes Memorial and the Langley War Memorial (Berkshire).
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Pte. Frank Edward Turner 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.26th Nov 1914) Frank Turner has known grave.
He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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Sgt. Charles Barnet 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.16th May 1915) Charles Barnett was my grandfather. I have a letter from CQMS Beare, A Coy, 2Bn Oxf&Bucks (the letter is not in good condition) which describes how my grandfather died.
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Pte. Job Wilson 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry (d.8th October 1918)  Job Wilson joined the Army in summer 1915, under intense pressure from society for all fit men to enlist. Job was 32 years old and had a wife, Rose and two children, Rosa (4) and George (2). He went to Oxford to join up, being given the number 18561 in the 2nd Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
Remarkably, Job Wilson survived for three years of horrific combat, when most of the men around him were being killed or wounded. He experienced many episodes of intense trench warfare including the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. By the following year he had become officer's batman (a personal servant) and is credited with saving Second Lieutenant P H R Whitehead, 'his' officers life when he was seriously wounded on 28th of May 1917. He then became batman to Captain G Field MC, who became Major Field in charge of the Regiment.
Job would have had very little leave, but he did return to Great Missenden to see his family for a few days leave in early October 1918 and on his way back to the front line he wrote immediately to his wife Rose to try to cheer her up. "I am not surprised at you feeling a bit down, but chin up, better days in store, tell Rosa and George to cheer up, dad is alright, best and fondest love from your loving husband xxxxxx". By the time she read it, he had been blown up by a German bomb and died of his wounds very soon after. The war was all over only a month later, on 11 November 1918.
Sending the sad news of his death, Major Field wrote to his widow Rose "I miss him very very much indeed. As you probably know he had been my servant for the last 3 months and a more cheerful, hard-working, excellent fellow would be very difficult to find." Rose remained living at Office Cottage (now known as Peppercorn Cottage) in Great Missenden for 40 years and worked hard to provide for Rosa and George both eventually went to Grammar School.
Job was buried in a war cemetery in France. No-one from the family has ever visited Job's grave in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, but this is planned for the centenary of his death. And on Sunday 8th October 2017 the "ghost" of Job Wilson will be seen again in WW1 uniform in the village of Great Missenden, around the church and High Street war memorials, the station, and his cottage, re-enacted by his great-grandson, Mark Smith.
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Sgt. Charles Edward Johnson 2/1st Btn., B Coy. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.22nd August 1917) All I know is that Charles Johnson was my great uncle and that he was killed on 22nd of August 1917 at Ypres. He is remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial. I have but one photo and treasure it very much. I wish that I knew more.
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Pte. Edward Charles Vale Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.9th Oct 1917) Edward Vale was born in 1890 at Ely, Cambridgeshire, son of William and Ellen Vale.
He previously served with 2nd Royal Fusiliers and 2nd and 6th Battalions Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry before transferring to the 1/4th Battalion.
His name appears on the War Office Daily Casualty List (Wounded), 24th September 1917, Edward died at Knightshayes V.A.D. Hospital, near Tiverton, Devon, of wounds received in France, 9th of October 1917.
Buried in Chevithorne (St Thomas) Churchyard, Devon, he is remembered on the Stretham, Cambs War Memorial.
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Pte. Claude George 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.17th Dec 1918) Claude George was the son of the late Henry and Jane George, husband of Harriett George of Kelvistow, 6 Garsington Rd., Cowley, Oxford. He was born in London.
He was 32 when he died and is buried in the Prague (Olsany) Cemetry in the Czech Republic.
His grave is located in the main Cemetery and is commemorated by a grey slate headstone.
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James Bennett 2nd Btn. Ox & Bucks Light Infantry My great grandfather, Bugler James Bennett, served with the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry between 1892 and 1919. He was appointed bugler on 5th May 1904 when he was with the 2nd Btn. I would like to trace a photo of him. Can anyone help?
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Pte. Frank Matthews 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry (d.21st Oct 1914) Unfortunately no details known about Frank Matthews service with the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry.
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Pte. James Jesse Lyman MM. 2nd Btn. B Company, 8th Platoon Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry (d.11th Sep 1918)  Before enlistment James Lyman worked at Cox’s Dairy Farm in Gayhurst,Buckinghamshire. He was one of seven brothers to serve in the war and was the only one to die. Most of his brothers joined up within a year after war had broken out, but his eldest brother Harry was below the required height for recruitment. James enlisted at Bletchley on the 18th March 1916 and then proceeded to France in the following July. James was moved to the 2nd Ox and Bucks Light Infantry were he got his first taste of battle in Bethune.
On the evening of 11 September 1918 the men of 8th Platoon, 2nd Ox and Bucks LI were advised that they were going to go over the top after the artillery barrage had finished. The weather was terrible and the floor was thick with mud. The companies were to attack with a frontage of 1,500 Yards and 100 Yards between each wave. B company (8th Platoon) went too far to the left during the attack resulting in a considerable gap between B and D Company and therefore the Germans were able to hold off the two companies in the gap. Communication was very difficult and all signal lines gave at once.
Jim Lyman was heavily wounded during the push for Lock 7 on the evening of the 11th, He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. It was unknown what he did but from what we know from the war diaries and a letter received from the Brigade Chaplin it seemed he could have volunteered to be a runner and was injured doing so. James was brought back to the advanced field hospital where he was unconscious and beyond all human help. He died a few minutes later. The brigade Chaplin, Rev. George Galbraith, buried James in a shallow grave behind the lines where he then read a short personal service at James’ graveside.
In November 1918, the ribbon of the Military Medal was awarded posthumously to Private Lyman and would be sent to his mother by the Colonel, who wrote; "I knew him well. He was a good soldier, a credit to his regiment and to himself." Major General C. Pereira, C.B., C.M.G., Commanding the 2nd Division, also wrote, congratulating Mrs. Lyman on the bravery of her son.
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Albert Christie Blackwell 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire& Buckinghamshire Light Infantry In the 1911 census my grandfather, Bertie Blackwell was based at Shorncliffe Camp, Elham, Kent. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. During WW1 he served as a navigator with the Army Flying Corps before being shot through the foot. I believe he was invalided out to the North Staffordshire Regiment.
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Pte. Horatio Nelson Cross 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry (d.14th Mar 1915) Horatio Cross was my Great-grandfather whose history I am just learning about. Unfortunately, his medals have been mislaid over the years but his wife had had them framed along with a regimental photo of which I have a small copy. I have information stating he is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Bethune is 29km north of Arras. I would love to find out if this is near where he fought, or if he was taken there after being injured. As I said this is early days for me in my quest for info so if anyone can be of any help I'd be really grateful.
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