211181 Pte. Thomas Measey British Army 101st Coy Machine Gun Corps from:Oakley Buckinghamshire (d.20th Jan 1917) Thomas Measey was the son of Joseph Measey and Martha Gladdy, who resided at Oakley in Buckinghamshie. Joseph was a shopkeeper and landlord of The Royal Oak, Oakley which had been run by the Gladdy family. I believe that he was originally in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and joined up with his brothers Charles,Frank and George.
The Measey boys worked on local farms in Oakey and bred horses at The Royal Oak, Oakley. Thomas later joined the Machine Gun Corps with his brother Charles Henry. The Measey boys were all given a prayer book by the Vicar of Oakley before going to their regiments. Thomas was the first of the Measey boys to be killed in action, he died on the 20th January 1917 aged 33. Thomas is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cementary at Armentieres His name can be found on the war memorial and roll of honour at Oakley church and a photo of him is posted on the Buckinghamshire Remembers website. My grandmother Mary Anne Govier [nee Measey] was the sister of Thomas and was deeply affected by her brother's loss. Mary Anne Measey was married to Henry Govier of Oakley and the Govier family lived in a large timber framed farmhouse on the Worminghall Road. In the kitchen over the mantleplace to the fire were the three death plaques of Thomas, Charles Henry and Frank although four of my great uncles had died in the 1st World War. George was not issued with a death plaque as he had died of his injuries in Switzerland. The medals, prayer books and photos of my four great uncles were given to me by my grandmother and will be passed down through my family.
There were no Measey boys from my great grandparents Joseph and Martha had no male children, but the Measey name survives in Buckinghamshire through Joseph's brothers. Some years ago I spoke about my great uncles at Oakley church on Armistice Day. Although I was not lucky enough to meet them they are still remembered in my family and I tried to find out as much as possible about them.
|