A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Oakley, 7th Hampshire Regiment and Labour Corps, late Hampshire Imperial Yeomanry

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarked London 1918; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (14128 Tpr: J. G. Oakley, 47th Coy. 13th Impl: Yeo:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. J. G. Oakley.) mounted court-style, gilt worn on the first, otherwise good very fine (4) £300-£400

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919:
‘For valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France and Flanders’

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1917.

John Gretton Oakley was born at Chislehurst, Kent, and served as a Trooper in the 47th Company, 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. This unit was known as Lord Donoughmore’s Horse and it was raised and outfitted by him. It is not very often that a Battalion surrenders in the field of battle, but during the Boer War this happened on several occasions due to the mobile guerilla warfare that took place. The 13th Imperial Yeomanry were ambushed by De-Wet’s Commando near Lindley and, after several days fighting from 27-31 May 1900, the 13th raised the white flag and surrendered. They were taken to Nooitgedacht and from there parolled.

He was commissioned into the 7th Hampshire Regiment on 12 October 1914. As Acting Lieutenant in 1916 he was assigned to 87th Provisional Battalion; Temporary Captain, 19 March 1917, Deputy Assistant Director for Labour; Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, Hampshire Regiment and Labour Corps, 24 February 1918. Sold with copied research.