LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive
Added 16th May 2012
1736, Private Charles Henry OAKES — 11th Hussars
Birth & early life
Born in the parish of St. Clement Danes, London.
Enlistment
Enlisted at London on the 3rd of August 1854.
Age: 17.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Clerk.
Service, discharge & pension
"Deserted" on the 18th of September and rejoined on the 4th of October 1854. Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned 4th of October — 7th of December 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
1861 Census
Hume Cavalry Barracks, Lancashire.
C.H. Oakes, aged 24, Soldier, born St Clement, Middlesex.
From Private to Corporal: 10th of December 1867.
In confinement: "for absence". Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and reduced to Private on the 29th of July 1858.
From Private to Corporal: 28th of December 1865.
Re-engaged for a further 12 years' service at Colchester on the 23rd of April 1866.
Corporal to Sergeant: 20th of December 1867.
Reverted to Private, "at his own request", on the 23rd of January 1868.
Appointed to L/Corporal on the 8th of May 1868.
Discharge & pension
Discharged from Colchester on the 20th of February 1878: "Free discharge, after 21 years' service."
Served 22 years 183 days, to count. In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year. In India: 11 years 5 months.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Four times tried by Court-martial.
To live at No. 2 Providence Place, Shepherd's Bush, London, after discharge.
Medals & commemorations
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal. "Lost medal replaced by purchase" on the 12th of April 1857. (Presumably the Crimean medal.)
Life after Service
Marriage registered
Charles Henry Oakes married Harriett Ann Cramp, September Quarter 1878, Kensington.
1881 Census
Cheltenham College
The 1881 Census Returns show him as a Resident Porter, Army Pensioner, Commissioner, aged 43, born in London, Middlesex, with his wife, Harriet, 35, born at Ramsgate, Kent.
1891 Census
17 Stanley Street, St Paul, Deptford.
Harriett A Oakes, aged 50, widow, lodger, born Ramsgate.
1901 Census
62 Napier Street, St Paul, Deptford.
Harriett A Oakes, widow, 61, Charwoman, born Ramsgate.
Death registered
The GRO records show the death of a man of this name, aged 50, in the June quarter of 1887 at Kings Norton, Staffs.
References & acknowledgements
Registration of marriage and Census information for 1861, 1891 and 1901 kindly provided by Chris Poole.