{"product_id":"brothers-43rd-cef-canadians-kia-1918-medal-pair-memorial-cross-re-forfar-angus","title":"Brothers: 43rd CEF Canadians KIA 1918 Medal Pair Memorial Cross RE Forfar Angus","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFamily Group\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Canadian Medal Pair \u0026amp; Memorial Cross - Private James Fordyce Oakley, 43rd Battalion (Manitoba Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e2476354 PTE. J. F. OAKLEY. 43-CAN.INF.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e2476354 PTE. J. F. OAKLEY. 43-CAN.INF.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMemorial Cross (in box) – \u003cb\u003e2476354 PTE. J. F. OAKLEY.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eJames Fordyce Oakley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e15th October 1892 at Forfar, Angus\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eDaniel Oakley of 2 Nursery Street, Forfar\u003c\/b\u003e. He was educated locally and appears in the 1901 Census at \u003cb\u003e154½ East High Street, Forfar\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 9.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy 1911 he was employed as a \u003cb\u003efactory worker\u003c\/b\u003e, before emigrating to \u003cb\u003eCanada in May 1911\u003c\/b\u003e, sailing from Glasgow to Montreal. He settled in \u003cb\u003eWinnipeg, Manitoba\u003c\/b\u003e, where he worked as a clerk and warehouseman.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted in the \u003cb\u003eCanadian Overseas Expeditionary Force\u003c\/b\u003e at Winnipeg on \u003cb\u003e31st May 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 24. His attestation papers record:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBirthplace: Forfar, Scotland\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOccupation: Clerk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eReligion: Presbyterian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNext of Kin: \u003cb\u003eDaniel Oakley, 26 South Street, Forfar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe was posted to the \u003cb\u003e43rd Battalion (Manitoba Regiment)\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e8th August 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, the opening day of the \u003cb\u003eBattle of Amiens\u003c\/b\u003e, the battalion advanced south-west of \u003cb\u003eDemuin, France\u003c\/b\u003e, during the great Allied offensive that marked the beginning of the “Hundred Days”.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOfficial Canadian records state:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e“Whilst engaged in clearing a trench of the enemy, South West of Demuin, he was killed by a fragment of a shell.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe was \u003cb\u003ekilled in action on 8th August 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 25.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe is buried at:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMezières Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrave Reference: \u003cb\u003eB. 14\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLocal Forfar newspapers recorded that this was the second bereavement suffered by the family. His elder brother \u003cb\u003eFred Oakley\u003c\/b\u003e, also serving with the Canadians, had been killed in action in June 1916. A third brother, \u003cb\u003eNorman Oakley\u003c\/b\u003e, was serving in France with the Royal Engineers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe press noted that James and his brother Fred had been home on leave together the previous autumn — the first time they had met in nine years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA Forfar man who emigrated to Canada, returned to Europe in uniform, and fell during the decisive opening blow of the Allied advance in August 1918.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War 1914-15 Medal Trio – Private Norman Oakley, Royal Engineers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star – \u003cb\u003e48994 DVR: N. OAKLEY. R.E.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e48994 DVR. N. OAKLEY. R.E.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e48994 DVR. N. OAKLEY. R.E.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNorman Oakley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e6th May 1896 at Forfar, Angus\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eDonald Oakley and Elizabeth Wilkie\u003c\/b\u003e. He was raised at \u003cb\u003e154 East High Street, Forfar\u003c\/b\u003e, and later at \u003cb\u003e16 Green Street\u003c\/b\u003e, where the family were well known locally. In the 1911 Census he is recorded as a 14-year-old apprentice grocer, already beginning working life in his home town.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted in the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Engineers\u003c\/b\u003e, serving as \u003cb\u003eDriver 48994 Norman Oakley\u003c\/b\u003e. He first entered the theatre of war in \u003cb\u003eFrance on 10th July 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, serving with the Expeditionary Force during some of the most sustained and destructive periods of trench warfare on the Western Front. As a Driver in the Royal Engineers, his duties would have involved the transport of stores, ammunition, engineering materials, and essential logistical support to front line units — work that was frequently carried out under shellfire and in dangerous forward areas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe served throughout the war and was entitled to the \u003cb\u003e1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, confirming his early arrival overseas and continuous service through to the Armistice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNorman endured profound personal loss during the war. His elder brother, \u003cb\u003ePrivate Frederick Strachan Oakley\u003c\/b\u003e, serving with the Canadians, was killed in action in June 1916 at Sanctuary Wood. Two years later, in August 1918, his brother \u003cb\u003ePrivate James Fordyce Oakley, 43rd Battalion Canadian Infantry\u003c\/b\u003e, was killed in action south-west of Demuin during the great Allied advance on the Somme. Contemporary newspaper reports from Forfar record the double bereavement suffered by the Oakley family and the widespread sympathy extended to them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eUnlike his brothers, Norman survived the conflict. After the war he emigrated to Canada, spending periods in Winnipeg and later travelling between Scotland and North America. He eventually returned to Forfar, where he established himself as a grocer and confectioner at \u003cb\u003e16 Watt Street\u003c\/b\u003e. Records show him operating the business through the 1930s and 1940s, and he later travelled to the United States in the 1950s before settling back in Angus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNorman Oakley died on 10th August 1970 at Brechin Infirmary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e, aged 74, and was cremated at Dundee Crematorium.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe represents the surviving brother of a Forfar family that gave heavily during the Great War — two sons killed, one returned — a story reflected in local press reports and official records alike.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVisit my website for better prices on most of my stock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53868385861978,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260224_154656.png?v=1774262194","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/brothers-43rd-cef-canadians-kia-1918-medal-pair-memorial-cross-re-forfar-angus","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}